1. Dr Rick Swindell Co-founder of U3A Online www.u3aonline.org.au Educational Initiatives for the Elderly *

2. What I’ll talk about Successful Ageing Some international and national educational initiatives for the elderly Virtual learning programs and ideas U3A Online World U3A Wikis Constituency research *

3. Healthy Ageing Successful Ageing Ageing Well Active Ageing Productive Ageing The lifestyle choices we make Ageing population - greater responsibility placed on older people everywhere to maximise their chances for independence *

4. Active mind and active body “Successful Aging” (Rowe & Kahn 1998) Successful Ageing Essentials for Successful Ageing Follow sound health-related advice *

5. Active mind and active body Physiological benefits of exercise for elderly well documented The Foresight Project “Learning must continue throughout life. This can have a direct effect on mental health and well-being across all age groups, and has particular promise in older people.” Beddington et al. The mental wealth of nations. Nature, vol 455, Oct 2008, 1070-1060. * cardiovascular, strength, balance, stretching Improve blood flow to the brain Help stimulate release of factors critical to brain growth

6. Active mind and active body “Successful Aging” (Rowe & Kahn 1998) Successful Ageing Essentials for Successful Ageing Follow sound health-related advice Engage with life Active mind and active body “Successful Aging” (Rowe & Kahn 1998) Social networks Death of loved one, caregiver, incapacity, retirement etc etc *

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8. Active mind and active body “Successful Aging” (Rowe & Kahn 1998) Successful Ageing Essentials for Successful Ageing Follow sound health-related advice Engage with life Active mind and active body “Successful Aging” (Rowe & Kahn 1998) Social networks Do interesting things Many later life learning organisations are “Successful Ageing” organisations *

9. Some major later life learning initiatives North America France UK China Hong Kong Internet-based *

10. Elderhostel Educational travel since 1975  Nancy Merz-Nordstrom – Director: Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN) USA and Canada 1988 Elderhostel Information Network (EIN) Must entice baby boomers Short courses 1-5 weeks; personal enrichment; weekends and evenings; 93 university-based programs in 39 states Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) - 2002 Lifelong Learning Institutes (LLI) Started 1962; now 1000+ programs Volunteer teachers/administrators University/College based *

11. France Universités du Troisième Âge (UTA) “The French Model” (university based) 1973 Many European countries, Quebec, other countries *

12. UK Community-based (not university) 700 groups; 200,000 members Subject networks – members share courses “The British Model” (Self-help U3As) 1981 *

13. China  1980s - army, big companies, mines, universities, etc  28,000 organisations with > 2.3 million members < 1% of 300 million older people  Jean Thompson – 2004 AIUTA Congress Shanghai *

14. Courses short-term or 1-3 years. Seven categories: health care physical exercises study courses, (eg literature, history, geography, languages) skills (eg computer skills, finance, cookery, gardening) arts (eg calligraphy, painting, music, dancing) hobbies, (eg travel, photography and stamp collecting) political topics  Social contact valued equally or more than new knowledge Curriculum *

15. Teaching  Expert teachers - nominal salary; assisted by volunteers  Teaching - relaxed and flexible, to suit students' needs Central Radio/TV University to set up special courses Discussion groups – current events New text books in cooperation with national publishers Study tours Exhibitions, competitions *

16. Hong Kong Elder Academies Dr. Leong Chi Hung, Peter Wong & EC Secretariat 78 EAs primary and secondary schools 2008 – 7 tertiary institutions Compulsory health courses + electives (academic, arts, sport) Intergenerational harmony emphasis (young people volunteer) 2007 – Labour and Welfare Bureau & Elderly Commission *

17. Australia/NZ 1984: 270 self-help groups 2008: India Society of U3As; 2010 Symposium Japan 1960s: UAs Republic of SA 2000: 14 self-help groups North America: 1962: LLI; Elderhostel France: 1973 UTA; AIUTA 1975 China: 1980s UAs Summary: Major Educational Initiatives for the Elderly UK: 1981 self-help U3As *

18. Divorce Relocation Poor transport Death of a loved one Illness/Incapacity Being a carer In later life, participation threatened by: U3A Online – a virtual U3A open to all older people Many older people become isolated (even in large cities) *

19. A virtual U3A for isolated older people everywhere Cooperative ventures with similar online organisations U3AOL Project Goals Funded 1998 IYOP project *

20. www.u3aonline.org.au*

21. Cooperative ventures (eg TAT) *

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29. I am partially blind with limited short sight. I am extremely grateful to U3AOnline as I now have an interest at home - am happy working on my own and life has again a meaning. Comments from isolated participants I care for my wife who has Alzheimers. Have done so for the past 8 years. I’ll go as far as to say that being totally absorbed in my most recent online course has saved my sanity this year. I am the primary carer for my frail mother who at nearly 100 needs full time care now. Being able to access a service like this is one way to feel less isolated from the world outside. I love "virtual meeting" people from other regions, walks of life, with different viewpoints *

30. http://worldu3a.org/ World U3A *

31. Intergenerational Research possibilities *

32. Wikis - a free Internet tool for collaboration a wiki is … a web page that can be easily changed by all members ideal for U3A members to share ideas very easy to set up and modify free *

33. http://redlandsu3a.pbwiki.com/ *

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36. http://u3amusicgroups.pbwiki.com/ *

37. Send email to ricks1912@optusnet.com.au to get email copy of Signpost sent each month *

38. How to set up your own wiki 1) Click Research/Reports from drop-down menu 2) Download and print 18 page document *

39. Constituency Research Research by older people with older people Some U3A examples 1990-1994: a virtual U3A by telephone 2002-2006: A voice worth listening to 2008/09: Australian and NZ research study *

40. Summary 5 elements of Successful Ageing Isolated seniors are everywhere in the community. Internet-based learning programs improve their quality of life Later life learning programs as models of Successful Ageing Cooperative projects through the Internet *

41. Hong Kong Elder Academies are successful ageing organisations. Conclusion EA participants are invited to join the world-wide community of older learners, teachers, researchers and innovators U3A Online World U3A Others … *