Learning is a continuous process. It cannot be halted at any point in life. Young students find it easier to learn but when it comes to older people, learning seems like a big obstacle. One however can learn at any age, no matter how difficult it seems.
The need for learning is that it helps the person get the necessary skills. When the knowledge is achieved it can help them lead their life with feelings of self-worth and confidence. A person can achieve the set goals after the knowledge is acquired. An important thing about learning and growing is that one can start at any point in time.
In young students learning processes are easy as they have enhanced and wide brain functions. Older people suffer from age-related problems that reduce their brain functions and their ability to recall topics. Learning, therefore, has a different effect on the brain in older people than is seen in young adults.
A strong will and determination are needed if a person wants to start learning at an older age. There are several communities or NGOs that help old people become literate. There are multiple examples of people who started learning at an older age. All that is needed is providing suitable resources and having a will to bring the change.
Education can transform society. It is important that all individuals alike are provided knowledge and education. It will help in the betterment of society. It is therefore important that older people are educated as well. Here are some of the ways the education of older people can be made a reality.
Online Resources
Older people who have certain responsibilities to fulfill will find it difficult to attend schools or colleges. The stigma that is associated with starting education at a young age is also something they find difficult to tackle. Online teaching therefore can be a good tool to enhance learning by sitting at home.
Online learning can help teachers deliver lessons to students in an efficient manner. It has several tools such as videos, live video call podcasts, etc. Teachers use all these tools as part of the lesson plans and enhance the learning of students.
Community Groups
Social meetings are important for well-being and learning regardless of a person’s age. It is mainly very important during a person’s senior years. Older adults many times suffer from social isolation than younger people. It can help them navigate all the changes, obstacles that come in the process of learning. One takes care of their social well-being, physical and mental health benefits are also seen.
They can learn easily with a group as learning in isolation is very difficult. They can find accountability partners as well for themselves.
Taking care of psychological needs
Learning a new thing is a great way to enhance self-esteem and confidence. When a person learns a new skill, they feel stronger, more confident, and proud of themselves. New skills can give them a stronger sense of independence of mind, which can keep them happy and healthy.
If a person has a belief that they are smart it leads to creating a strong mind. It can help them prevent memory loss. Older people do badly on memory-related tasks because they are exposed to negative beliefs about seniority and forgetfulness. They perform better on such tasks when they are told that it is possible to preserve one’s memory well into the later years.
Conclusion
With old age, comes certain challenges. Senior citizens need proper medication so that they can remain healthy. They need proper medical care, such as visits to the doctor, eye care, etc. This makes them waste their time.
Their learning should be at a slow pace to make them easily understand the concepts. This will help them make their life easy and joyous. It is never too late. It can be attained at any time. One should be supportive of old people wanting to learn. It is like they are taking a new road to fun and learning both at the same time. The change is achievable. We all should make sure to be supportive and determined.