University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

The Role Of The California Community Colleges In The Education Of The Aged

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The Role Of The California Community Colleges In The Education Of The Aged

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Content T H E R O L E O F T H E C A L IF O R N IA C O M M U N IT Y C O L L E G E S
I N T H E E D U C A T IO N O F T H E A G E D
b y
C h a r le s R ic h a r d C a r ls o n
A D is s e r t a t io n P r e s e n te d to th e
F A C U L T Y O F T H E G R A D U A T E S C H O O L
U N IV E R S IT Y O F S O U T H E R N C A L IF O R N IA
In P a r t i a l F u lf illm e n t o f th e
R e q u ir e m e n ts fo r th e D e g r e e
D O C T O R O F P H IL O S O P H Y
(E d u c a tio n )
Ju n e 1972
INFORMATION TO USERS
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I
I
73-726
CARLSON, Charles Richard, 1935-
THE ROLE OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
IN THE EDUCATION OF THE AGED.
University of Southern California, Ph.D., 1972
Education, higher
University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan
THIS DISSERTATION HAS.BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED.
U N IV ER S ITY O F S O U T H E R N C A LIF O R N IA
T H E G R A D U A TE S C H O O L
U N IV E R S IT Y PARK
LOS A N G E LE S , C A L I F O R N IA 9 0 0 0 7
This dissertation, written by
under the direction of h.X.s... Dissertation Com
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by The Graduate
School, in partial fulfillment of requirements of
the degree of
CHARLES RICHARD CARLSON
D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y
Dean
Date September 1972
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE
Chairman
PLEASE NOTE:
Some pages may have
i nd i st inet p r in t.
Filmed as received.
U n iversity M icro film s, A Xerox Education Company
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
T h e a s s is ta n c e o f m a n y p e rs o n s h as m a d e p o s s ib le the
c o m p le tio n o f th is s tu d y . C o lle a g u e s in th e C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity
C o lle g e s , r e t i r e d p e rs o n s in th e c h a p te rs o f th e A m e r ic a n A s s o c ia
tio n o f R e t ir e d P e r s o n s , m y c o m m itte e on d o c to r a l s tu d ie s , fe llo w
g ra d u a te s tu d e n ts and a s s o c ia te s a t B a k e r s fie ld C o lle g e h a v e a ll
b e e n o f g r e a t a s s is ta n c e .
I w is h to th a n k p a r t ic u la r ly D r . L e s lie E . W ilb u r , the
c h a ir m a n o f m y c o m m itte e f o r h is k in d h e lp and e n c o u ra g e m e n t,
and D r . E a r l V . P u llia s f o r h is im m e a s u r a b le in s p ir a tio n . S p e c ia l
a s s is ta n c e w as g iv e n b y D e a n L e r o y D ix s o n o f the In s t it u t e o f <
L if e t im e L e a r n in g f o r w h ic h I a m v e r y g r a te fu l.
F i n a l ly , I w is h to th a n k m y p a re n ts fo r m a n y h o u rs o f
a s s is ta n c e and m u c h u n d e rs ta n d in g , as w e ll as M r . T e d C h e le a n
f o r h is s p e c ia l s u p p o rt.
C o n tr ib u tio n s o f th e s e and o th e r p e rs o n s a r e too n u m e ro u s
to m e n tio n , b u t th e y a r e a c k n o w le d g e d w ith d eep g r a titu d e .
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S XI
L IS T O F T A B L E S
VI
C h a p te r
I . T H E P R O B L E M 1
In tro d u c tio n
S ta te m e n t o f th e P r o b le m
S ig n ific a n c e o f the P r o b le m
S co p e o f th e In v e s tig a tio n
D e fin itio n o f T e r m s
A s s u m p tio n s
E n d o rs e m e n ts
S u m m a r y
O r g a n iz a tio n o f th e S tu d y
I I . R E V IE W O F T H E L IT E R A T U R E . . . . 12
A d u lt and A g e d L e a r n in g A b ilit ie s
C h a r a c t e r is tic s o f th e A g e d P o p u la tio n
E d u c a tio n a l N e e d s o f th e A g e d
P o t e n t ia l A u d ie n c e o f A g e d P e rs o n s
E x p e r ie n c e s o f C o lle g e s in O ffe r in g E d u c a tio n
to th e A g e d
G e n e r a l P r o b le m s in O ffe r in g E d u c a tio n to the
A g e d
O th e r E d u c a tio n a l O p p o rtu n itie s f o r th e A g e d
T h e In v e s tig a tio n
G e n e r a l S ta tu s o f C o m m u n ity C o lle g e E d u c a tio n
f o r th e A g e d
P r o c e d u r e s and P r a c tic e s
P r o g r a m s and C o u rs e O ffe r in g s
C o m m e n ts and R e a c tio n s
I I I . T H E C O L L E G E S 30
I V . T H E A G E D 49
T h e In v e s tig a tio n
C h a r a c t e r is tic s o f th e A g e d
A c t iv it ie s o f th e A g e d
iii
E d u c a tio n a l A w a re n e s s o f th e A g e d
E d u c a tio n a l N e e d s and D e s ir e s o f the A g e d
L im it a t io n s and P r o b le m s
C o m m e n ts and R e a c tio n s
Y . A N A L Y S IS O F T H E F I N D I N G S ....................................................... 72
C u r r e n t R o le o f th e C o lle g e s
N u m b e r o f C o lle g e s
O ffe r in g s
P r o b le m A r e a s
F u t u r e R o le o f th e C o lle g e s
E x p a n s io n
O ffe r in g s
C h a n g e s N e e d e d in M e th o d s and P r a c t ic e s
D e v e lo p in g a P r o g r a m
R e la tio n to In s t it u t io n a l G o a ls
V I . S U M M A R Y , C O N C L U S IO N S A N D R E C O M M E N D A
T IO N S .................................................................................................. 87
S u m m a r y o f th e S tu d y
S ta te m e n t o f th e P r o b le m
S ig n ific a n c e o f th e P r o b le m
S co pe o f the In v e s tig a tio n
A s s u m p tio n s
E n d o r s e m e n ts
C o n c lu s io n s
T h e L it e r a t u r e
T h e C o lle g e s
T h e A g e d
A n s w e rs to th e S p e c ific Q u e s tio n s o f th e
S tu d y
R e c o m m e n d a tio n s
T h e C o lle g e s
P r a c t ic e s and P r o c e d u r e s
C o u rs e O ffe r in g s
iv
G e n e r a l R e c o m m e n d a tio n s
N e e d s o f th e R e tir e d
N e e d s f o r F u r t h e r R e s e a r c h
A P P E N D I C E S ..............................................................................................................112
A P P E N D IX A . L is t o f C o lle g e s P a r t ic ip a t in g
in S tu d y . . . . . . . 113
A P P E N D IX B . C o v e r L e t t e r s and Q u e s tio n n a ir e S e n t
to th e C o m m u n ity C o lle g e s o f C a l i f
o r n ia . . . . . . . 117
A P P E N D IX C . C o v e r L e t t e r s and Q u e s tio n n a ir e S en t
to R e tir e d P e rs o n s in C a lif o r n ia . 123
B I B L I O G R A P H Y ..............................................................................................................133
v
L IS T O F T A B L E S
T a b le P a g e
1. C u r r e n t S ta tu s o f C o m m u n ity C o lle g e E d u c a tio n
f o r th e A g e d . . . . . . . . 47
2 . P r o c e d u r e s and P r a c t ic e s o f C o m m u n ity C o lle g e s
in O ffe r in g E d u c a tio n to th e A g e d . . . 48
3 . A g e and S e x C h a r a c t e r is tic s o f th e A g e d P o p u la
tio n in S a m p le . . . . . . . 64
4 . R e t ir e m e n t and E m p lo y m e n t C h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f
th e A g e d P o p u la tio n in S a m p le . . . 65
5 . E d u c a tio n a l C h a r a c t e r is tic s o f th e A g e d P o p u la
tio n in S a m p le . . . . . . . 66
6 . In c o m e C h a r a c t e r is tic s o f th e A g e d P o p u la tio n
in S a m p le . . . . . . . . 67
7. P a r t ic ip a t io n in O u ts id e A c t iv it ie s and E n g a g e
m e n t in E d u c a tio n a l o r C u lt u r a l A c t iv it ie s
on P a r t o f A g e d S a m p le . . . . . 68
8 . A w a re n e s s o f E d u c a tio n a l S u rro u n d in g s on P a r t
o f A g e d S a m p le . . . . . . . 69
9. E d u c a tio n a l N e e d s and D e s ir e s In d ic a te d b y A g e d
S a m p le . . . . . . . . . 70
10 . C h o ic e s o f E d u c a tio n a l A g e n c ie s on P a r t o f A g e d
S a m p le . . . . . . . . . 71
vi
CHAPTER I
T H E P R O B L E M
In tr o d u c tio n
J a m e s W . T h o rn to n in T h e C o m m u n ity J u n io r C o lle g e
c o m m e n ts :
In th e p a s t, e d u c a tio n has b e e n c o n s id e re d e s s e n tia lly as a
p r e p a r a t io n f o r l i f e . I f th is d e fin itio n s t i l l d e lim it s th e scope
o f th e s c h o o ls , th e a g in g c itiz e n is no c o n c e rn o f t h e ir s . On
th e o th e r h a n d , i f e d u c a tio n can a ls o be c o n s id e re d as a c o n
tin u in g p a r t o f l i f e , i t can m a k e s ig n ific a n t c o n trib u tio n s b oth
to th e in d iv id u a l w e ll-b e in g o f th e o ld e r p e rs o n and to th e w e l
f a r e o f s o c ie ty . . . . (3 1 :2 4 3 )
T h e p u b lic ju n io r c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia h a v e o f f ic ia lly
b e e n re n a m e d c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s b y th e C a lif o r n ia S ta te L e g is la
t u r e . I t w o u ld a p p e a r th a t th e L e g is la t u r e w a s m a k in g c le a r its
in te n t th a t th e s e c o lle g e s w e r e to be m u c h m o r e th a n s im p ly
" ju n io r " c o lle g e s . T h e y a r e to b e , in fa c t, tr u e c o m m u n ity c o l
le g e s w ith a l l th a t im p lie s . I f s o , th e n th e y h a v e an o b lig a tio n to
s e rv e th e e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s o f a l l s ig n ific a n t g ro u p s w ith in t h e ir
c o m m u n itie s , in c lu d in g th e a g e d .
T h e r e la tio n s h ip o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in th is r o le
to o th e r a g e n c ie s b o th p u b lic and p r iv a te as w e ll as to o th e r le v e ls
o f e d u c a tio n s t i l l is n o t c le a r . F u r t h e r e x p e r im e n ta tio n and
r e s e a r c h is n e e d e d to d e te r m in e the p r o p e r sco p e o f c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e e d u c a tio n f o r th e a g e d .
1
2
O f r e le v a n c e , is n o t o n ly w h e th e r th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s
can be o f r e a l and a c tu a l s e r v ic e to th is p a r t ic u la r g ro u p o f p e rs o n s ,
bu t a ls o w h a t e ffe c ts th is e n la r g e m e n t o f r e s p o n s ib ility w i l l h a v e on
the fu tu r e o f th e c o lle g e s and upon t h e ir r e la tio n s w ith o th e r le v e ls
o f e d u c a tio n .
T h e 1970 cen su s in d ic a te d th a t th e r e a r e now tw e n ty m illio n
p e rs o n s in th e U n ite d S ta te s a g e d s ix t y - f iv e and o v e r . S in c e I9 6 0
th is ag e g ro u p h as in c r e a s e d b y t h ir t y - t w o p e r c e n t w h ile th e to ta l
p o p u la tio n h as in c r e a s e d o n ly tw e n ty -tw o p e r c e n t.
T h e p r o b le m o f th is s tu d y is to d e te r m in e the r o le o f the
C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity C o lle g e s in th e e d u c a tio n o f the ag ed w ith in 1
i
th e s ta te o f C a lif o r n ia . T o a s s is t in the d e v e lo p m e n t o f th is p r o b
le m , th e fo llo w in g s e c tio n s a r e in c lu d e d in th is c h a p te r: (1) I n t r o
d u c tio n , (2) th e S ta te m e n t o f th e P r o b le m , (3 ) S ig n ific a n c e o f the
P r o b le m , (4) Scope o f th e In v e s tig a tio n , (5) D e fin itio n o f T e r m s ,
(6 ) A s s u m p tio n s , (7) E n d o r s e m e n ts , (8) S u m m a r y , and (9) O r g a n
iz a t io n o f th e S tu d y .
I
S ta te m e n t o f th e P r o b le m j
S in c e 19 00 th e n u m b e r o f p e rs o n s in the U n ite d S ta te s age i
I
s ix t y - f iv e an d o v e r h as in c r e a s e d m o r e th a n 600 p e r c e n t a c c o rd in g i
to U n ite d S ta te s C e n s u s fig u r e s . O n e in e v e r y te n p e rs o n s in the ,
U n ite d S ta te s is n o w s ix t y - f iv e o r o v e r . W ith lif e e x p e c ta n c y
in c r e a s in g and age o f r e t ir e m e n t d e c r e a s in g , p e r s o n a l and s o c ia l
im p lic a tio n s o f a g in g a r e d if f ic u lt to e s c a p e . T h e n a tio n is b e c o m in g
!
in c r e a s in g ly c o n c e rn e d w ith n o t o n ly im p r o v in g th e m e n ta l, p h y s ic a l j
3
and s p ir it u a l w e llb e in g o f o ld e r m e m b e r s o f s o c ie ty , b u t a ls o w ith
th e e f f o r t to c o n s e rv e , d e v e lo p and u t iliz e th e p o te n tia litie s o f th is
v a s t h u m a n r e s o u r c e .
F o r a n u m b e r o f re a s o n s th e a g e d a r e b e c o m in g m o r e
in d e p e n d e n t and p r o b le m s a s s o c ia te d w ith th e m a r e a ls o b e c o m in g
m o r e id e n t if ia b le . T h e a g e d h a v e p ro b le m s in su ch a r e a s as
r e t ir e m e n t p la n n in g , in c o m e p ro te c tio n , s u p p le m e n ta l in c o m e ,
h e a lth , h o u s in g , m e d ic a l c a r e , f a m ily r e la t io n s , e d u c a tio n and
r e c r e a t io n . T h e y a ls o h a v e tim e and e n e rg y w h ic h c a n be u sed in
th e h e lp in g o f o th e r s . F u r n is h in g a c tiv itie s h e lp fu l to th e aged
in s o lv in g t h e ir p ro b le m s is an im p o s s ib le ta s k f o r a n y one a g e n c y .
M a n y o r g a n iz a tio n s and a g e n c ie s m u s t w o r k to g e th e r and c o m p le
m e n t e a c h o th e r i f th e jo b is to be d o n e.
E v e n th o u g h e d u c a tio n c an be id e n tifie d s e p a r a te ly as a
n e e d , i t a ls o a ffe c ts a ll th e o th e r a r e a s . W h e re a d u lt e d u c a tio n is
c o n c e rn e d , th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia h ave an in t e r e s t
and a r e s p o n s ib ilit y . H o w e v e r , th e a g e d o r r e t ir e d g ro u p s w ith in
lo c a l c o m m u n itie s s e e m o fte n to be ig n o r e d in e d u c a tio n a l p la n n in g .
S o m e c o lle g e s a r e o ffe r in g p r o g r a m s f o r th e a g e d , o th e rs h a v e m ade
l i t t l e o r n o e f f o r t to do so . S o m e of th o s e th a t h a v e t r ie d h a v e c o m
p la in e d o f p o o r a tte n d a n c e and d if f ic u lt y in c o m m u n ic a tin g w ith th e
a g e d . M a n y o f th o s e th a t h ave n o t o ffe r e d p r o g r a m s h a v e e x p re s s e d
fe e lin g s o f d o u b t o r ig n o ra n c e as to h o w to p ro c e e d . L it t le has a ls o
b e e n done b y r e s e a r c h e r s in c o m m u n ic a tin g w ith th e ag ed to fin d
o u t t h e ir s e lf - id e n t if ie d e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s and d e s ir e s .
4
T h e r e f o r e , a s ig n ific a n t n e e d e x is ts to f i l l s o m e o f th e
r e s e a r c h gaps e x is te n t in th is a r e a , lo o k in g p a r t ic u la r ly a t the
c u r r e n t p r a c t ic e s , p r o b le m s , and s u c c e s s e s o f th e c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia in o ffe r in g c la s s e s fo r r e t ir e d o r a g e d p e r
sons and in c lu d in g th e c u r r e n t n e e d s and d e s ir e s o f th e r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s th e m s e lv e s .
F u r t h e r , th e c o lle g e s a r e in n e e d o f an o u tlin e o f m e a s u re s
and p r o c e d u r e s to fo llo w in in it ia t in g and c o n d u c tin g p r o g r a m s fo r
r e t ir e d p e r s o n s , s h o u ld th e y d e c id e th a t th e s e p r o g r a m s a r e w ith in
th e p r o p e r r o le f o r th e c o lle g e s w ith in e a c h lo c a l c o m m u n ity .
W ith r e s p e c t to th e c o lle g e s , th is s tu d y w i l l s e e k to
a n s w e r th e fo llo w in g q u e s tio n s :
C u r r e n t r o le o f th e c o lle g e s
1. H o w m a n y c o lle g e s o ffe r s p e c ific c o u rs e s and p r o g r a m s
f o r r e t i r e d p e rs o n s ?
2 . W h a t c la s s e s a r e m o s t c o m m o n ly o ffe r e d ?
3 . W h a t h a v e b e e n th e m a jo r p r o b le m a r e a s in th e o ffe r in g
o f c la s s e s f o r th e a g e d ?
4 . U n d e r w h a t e n v ir o n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s h a v e th e c la s s e s b e e n
o ffe r e d ?
5 . W h a t e x p e r ie n c e s and a d v ic e do th e c o lle g e s h a v e to s h a re
w ith o th e rs ?
F u t u r e r o le o f th e c o lle g e s
1. Is th e r e a d e q u a te in fo r m a tio n to in d ic a te a g r e a t e r r o le
f o r c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in th e e d u c a tio n o f th e a g e d ?
5
2 . W h a t c la s s e s a r e b e s t f o r th e a g e d ?
3. W h a t c h an g e s n e e d to be m a d e in th e c u r r e n t m e th o d s
and p r a c tic e s o f o ffe r in g c la s s e s f o r th e a g e d ?
4 . W h a t p r o c e d u r e s , p o lic ie s a n d /o r ste p s sh o u ld be fo llo w e d
in s e ttin g up a p r o g r a m fo r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s ?
5. H o w d o es e d u c a tio n f o r th e ag ed f it in to o v e r a ll in s titu tio n a l
g o a ls ?
S ig n ific a n c e o f th e P r o b le m
T h e n e e d s o f th e e ld e r ly in the U n ite d S ta te s h a v e h i s t o r
i c a l ly b e e n a tte n d e d to in a m in im a l w a y . I t is tr u e th a t th e r e h a v e
b e e n f e d e r a l and s ta te p r o g r a m s w h ic h a im e d a t h e lp in g th e e ld e r ly :
S o c ia l S e c u r ity , M e d i- C a l, p u b lic h o u s in g , e tc . E v e n th o u g h
r e s e a r c h is lim it e d , m a n y in d ic a to r s p o in t to th e fa c t th a t th e
e ld e r ly y e t h a v e m a n y n e e d s w h ic h h a v e to be m e t one w a y o r th e
o th e r . A id in g in th e f illin g o f th e s e n e e d s is s ig n ific a n t, n o t o n ly
to th e a g e d , b u t to th e a g e n c ie s o r in s titu tio n s in s tr u m e n ta l in p r o
v id in g s e r v ic e s and to th e c o u n try in g e n e r a l, e s p e c ia lly th ro u g h
th e c o n s e r v a tio n o f h u m a n r e s o u rc e s p r e s e n t in th e ag ed p o p u la tio n .
T h e a d d itio n a l s ig n ific a n c e o f th is p r o je c t to th e c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia a p p e a rs to be tw o fo ld :
1. T h e e d u c a tio n a l g o a ls and c u r r ic u lu m o f th e c o lle g e s m a y
be g r e a t ly in flu e n c e d and b ro a d e n e d i f th e c o lle g e s re s p o n d
to th e p o te n tia l and la r g e ly u n ta p p e d a u d ie n c e r e p r e s e n te d
in th e 1. 8 m illio n r e t ir e d p e rs o n s w ith in th e S ta te o f
C a lif o r n ia .
6
2 . T h e c lo s e r and b e tte r r e la tio n s h ip o f th e a g e d to th e
c o lle g e s co u ld h a v e an e ffe c t u p o n th e fin a n c ia l s ta tu s o f
th e c o lle g e s . T h e tre m e n d o u s p o lit ic a l p o w e r c o n ta in e d
w ith in th e r e t ir e d p o p u la tio n is p e rh a p s to o o fte n a im e d a t
th e d e fe a t o f ta x o v e r r id e s and bonds o f th e c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e s . I t is p o s s ib le th a t th e la c k o f in v o lv e m e n t o f
th e ag ed w ith th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s h as c o n trib u te d to
th is p o lit ic a l s itu a tio n .
T h e a d d itio n a l s ig n ific a n c e o f th is p r o je c t to th e r e t ir e d
p e o p le o f C a lif o r n ia w o u ld a p p e a r to in c lu d e a t le a s t th e fo llo w in g :
1. T h e a v a ila b ilit y o f c o u rs e s and p r o g r a m s a im e d a t m a k in g
th e a d ju s tm e n t to r e t ir e m e n t e a s ie r .
2 . T h e p r e s e n ta tio n o f in fo r m a tio n c o n c e rn in g s e r v ic e s and
f in a n c ia l b e n e fits a v a ila b le to th e a g e d .
3 . T h e p o s s ib ility o f a tta in in g lif e - lo n g g o a ls o f e d u c a tio n a l
a c h ie v e m e n t.
4 . T h e a v a ila b ilit y o f tr a in in g fo r s e c o n d c a r e e r s , p a r t -
tim e e m p lo y m e n t, and a v o c a tio n a l a c t iv it ie s .
5. T h e p r e s e n ta tio n o f in fo r m a tio n and m a t e r ia ls h e lp fu l to
th e ag e d in p r e s e r v in g good h e a lth , good f a m ily r e la t io n s ,
a h e a lth y o u tlo o k on li f e , e tc .
6 . A c h a n c e to t r a in f o r s e r v ic e to o n e 's c o m m u n ity and
c o u n try .
7
S cope o f th e In v e s tig a tio n
T h is s tu d y in c lu d e d , f i r s t , a s u r v e y o f th e lit e r a t u r e
r e la t in g to th e r o le o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in th e e d u c a tio n o f
th e ag e d in c lu d in g th e n e e d s and in te r e s ts o f the a g e d . S e c o n d , a
q u e s tio n n a ir e w a s d e v e lo p e d w ith th e o b je c tiv e o f d e te r m in in g the
c u r r e n t a c t iv it ie s o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in th is a r e a . T h ir d ,
a q u e s tio n n a ire w a s d e v e lo p e d and d e liv e r e d to a r e p r e s e n ta tiv e
s a m p le o f r e t i r e d p e rs o n s liv in g in C a lif o r n ia .
T h e s tu d y o f th e lit e r a t u r e h ad as its o b je c tiv e , n o t o n ly
a r e v ie w o f th e s p e c ific a b ilit ie s o f th e ’a g e d h u t a ls o to c o lle c t
th e o p in io n s o f th e b e s t e x p e rts in th e f ie ld as to th e e d u c a tio n a l
n e ed s o f r e t ir e d p e r s o n s . In a d d itio n , in fo r m a tio n w a s so u g h t on
th e g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r is tic s o f th e ag ed p o p u la tio n e s p e c ia lly as
th e y r e la t e d to e d u c a tio n , th e p o te n tia l a u d ie n c e o f ag ed p e rs o n s to
w h ic h th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s m a y lo o k , th e e x p e rie n c e s o f c o lle g e s
in o ffe r in g e d u c a tio n to the a g e d , and g e n e r a l p ro b le m s a s s o c ia te d
w ith o ffe r in g su ch e d u c a tio n a l s e r v ic e s .
T h e n in ty -tw o c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in C a lif o r n ia w e r e
q u e s tio n e d to d e te r m in e t h e ir c u r r e n t o ffe r in g s as th e y r e la t e to
r e t ir e d p e rs o n s an d t h e ir e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s . T h e r e s e a r c h w as
c o n d u cted th ro u g h th e c o o p e ra tio n o f th e r e s p e c tiv e D e a n s o f
E v e n in g D iv is io n /C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n o r t h e ir d e s ig n a te s . T h e
q u e s tio n n a ire in c lu d e d r e fe r e n c e s to s p e c ific o ffe rin g s as w e ll as
m e th o d s o f re a c h in g the r e t ir e d , r e t ir e d p e rs o n s s ittin g on a d v is o r y
c o m m itte e s , s p e c ia l e n v ir o n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s f o r th e o ffe r in g o f
8
c la s s e s , a d m in is t r a t o r s o r fa c u lty m e m b e r s h a v in g s p e c ia l d u tie s
in th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f p r o g r a m s and c o m m e n ts and s u g g e s tio n s
b a s e d on p a s t e x p e r ie n c e s .
T w o -th o u s a n d r e t ir e d p e rs o n s in C a lif o r n ia w e r e
d e liv e r e d q u e s tio n n a ire s f o r t h e ir re s p o n s e . T h e q u e s tio n n a ire
w a s d e v e lo p e d in c o o p e ra tio n w ith th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g
o f th e A m e r ic a n A s s o c ia tio n o f R e t ir e d P e r s o n s (A A R P ). T h e
q u e s tio n n a ir e w a s d e s ig n e d to d e te r m in e th e b a s ic c h a r a c te r is t ic s
o f th e s e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s and t h e ir e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s , d e s ir e s , and
a w a re n e s s . T h e 2 0 0 0 r e t ir e d p e rs o n s w e r e s e le c te d as a r e p r e
s e n ta tiv e s a m p le o f th e m e m b e r s h ip o f th e A A R P in C a lif o r n ia
w h ic h to t a l a p p r o x im a te ly 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 . S e le c tio n w a s a c c o m p lis h e d b y
th e c h a ir m e n o f s o m e e ig h ty -e ig h t in d iv id u a l c h a p te rs o f th e A A R P
lo c a te d th ro u g h o u t th e s ta te o f C a lif o r n ia .
Q u e s tio n n a ir e s w e r e r e tu r n e d f r o m e ig h ty -n in e o f th e
n in e ty -tw o c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s and f r o m 1 1 2 5 o f th e 2 0 0 0 r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s p o lle d .
D e fin itio n o f T e r m s
T w o d e fin itio n s a r e b a s ic to th is s tu d y :
1. A g e d : T h e a g e d in c lu d e th o s e p e rs o n s s ix t y - f iv e o r o v e r
as w e ll as th o s e b e tw e e n f i f t y - f i v e and s ix t y - f iv e w ho w e r e
r e t ir e d f r o m f u ll- t im e e m p lo y m e n t. T h e t e r m s 'a g e d '
and 'r e t i r e d p e rs o n s ' a r e u s e d in te r c h a n g e a b ly in th is
s tu d y .
9
2 . E d u c a tio n : E d u c a tio n in th is sen se w a s u s e d to m e a n a ll
a c t iv it ie s o f a n e d u c a tio n a l n a tu r e th a t w o u ld n o r m a lly be
h e ld in a c la s s r o o m o r s im ila r s tr u c tu r e and th a t w o u ld
c o n s is t o f a s p e c ific c u r r ic u lu m n o t d e s ig n e d s o le ly f o r
th e e n te r ta in m e n t o f p a r tic ip a n ts . S u ch c la s s e s o r p r o
g r a m s c o u ld be g ra d e d o r u n g ra d e d and o ffe r e d w ith o r
w ith o u t c o lle g e c r e d it .
A s s u m p tio n s
1. T h e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia h a v e an o b lig a tio n
to s e r v e t h e ir v a r io u s p u b lic s , in c lu d in g the r e t ir e d
p o p u la tio n .
2 . T h e m e m b e r s h ip o f th e A m e r ic a n A s s o c ia tio n o f R e t ir e d
P e r s o n s (A A R P ) w a s r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f th e in te r e s te d and
a c tiv e r e t i r e d o r ag ed p e rs o n s w h o w o u ld m o s t lik e ly
ta k e p a r t , a t le a s t a t th e b e g in n in g , in c la s s e s and
p r o g r a m s a t th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s .
3 . T h e s a m p le o f th e A A R P m e m b e r s h ip in C a lif o r n ia w as
r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f a t le a s t f if t y p e r c e n t o f th e r e t ir e d
p o p u la tio n o f C a lif o r n ia .
E n d o rs e m e n ts
T h is p r o je c t w a s e n d o rs e d b y th e C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity
C o lle g e C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n A s s o c ia tio n and th e A m e r ic a n A s s o c i
a tio n o f R e t ir e d P e r s o n s and its In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g .
(s e e A p p e n d ix e s B and C )
10
T h is c h a p te r h as p re s e n te d an in tr o d u c tio n to th e s tu d y .
I t h as tr a c e d th e p r o b le m f r o m th e s iz e o f th e r e t ir e d p o p u la tio n
in C a lif o r n ia to th e n e e d f o r f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h in to th e e d u c a tio n a l
n e e d s and d e s ir e s o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s and th e p o s s ib le r o le o f th e
c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in th is a r e a . A p a r t ic u la r n e e d s e e m s to e x is t
to lo o k a t th e c u r r e n t p r a c t ic e s , p r o b le m s , and s u c c e s s e s of th e
c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia in o ffe r in g c la s s e s and p r o g r a m s
fo r r e t ir e d o r a g e d p e rs o n s e s p e c ia lly in c o m p a ris o n to th e
c u r r e n t n e e d s and d e s ir e s o f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s th e m s e lv e s .
T h e s ig n ific a n c e o f th is s tu d y lie s in th e p o te n tia l and
la r g e ly u n ta p p e d a u d ie n c e r e p r e s e n te d in th e 1. 8 m illio n r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s w ith in th e s ta te o f C a lif o r n ia b o th in th e in flu e n c e th e y c an
h a v e on th e e d u c a tio n a l g o a ls and c u r r ic u lu m o f th e c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e s and in th e tre m e n d o u s p o lit ic a l p o w e r c o n ta in e d w ith in
th is p o p u la tio n w ith its o fte n n e g a tiv e e ffe c t upo n th e fin a n c ia l s ta tu s
o f th e c o lle g e s . F o r th e r e t ir e d th e r e is o b v io u s s ig n ific a n c e fo r
th e b e tte r m e n t o f t h e ir liv e s . F o r th e c o u n try as a w h o le th e r e is
s ig n ific a n c e in th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f h u m a n r e s o u r c e s .
T h e S co p e o f th e In v e s tig a tio n w a s d e s c r ib e d . E m p h a s is
w as p la c e d on th e s u r v e y o f lit e r a t u r e to d is c o v e r th e r e le v a n t
c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f th e r e t ir e d p o p u la tio n , in c lu d in g t h e ir a b ilit ie s ,
n e e d s , d e s ir e s , an d th e p o te n tia l a u d ie n c e in c lu d e d in th is p o p u la
tio n as f a r as th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s a r e c o n c e rn e d . A ls o
im p o r ta n t w a s th e e x p e r ie n c e s o f c o lle g e s and p a r t ic u la r p ro b le m s
a s s o c ia te d w ith o ffe r in g e d u c a tio n f o r th e ag e d .____________ _____________
11
D e fin itio n o f T e r m s and A s s u m p tio n s u n d e rly in g th e s tu d y
w e r e lis t e d . T h e e n d o rs e m e n ts o f th e C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity
C o lle g e C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n A s s o c ia tio n and th e A m e r ic a n A s s o c i
a tio n o f R e t ir e d P e r s o n s and It s In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g w e r e
lis t e d .
O r g a n iz a tio n o f th e S tu d y
C h a p te r I p r e s e n te d an in tr o d u c tio n to th e p r o b le m , a
s ta te m e n t o f th e p r o b le m , th e scope o f th e in v e s tig a tio n , th e s ig n i
fic a n c e o f th e p r o b le m , a d e fin itio n o f t e r m s , a s s u m p tio n s u n d e r
ly in g th e s tu d y , e n d o rs e m e n ts o f th e p r o je c t and a s u m m a r y .
C h a p te r I I p r e s e n ts a r e v ie w o f th e lit e r a t u r e p e r ta in in g to
th e ag ed and to th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s .
C h a p te r I I I p re s e n ts th e in v e s tig a tio n , p ro c e d u re s u s e d ,
and th e b a s ic fin d in g s as th e y p e r t a in to th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s o f
C a lif o r n ia .
C h a p te r I V p re s e n ts th e in v e s tig a tio n , p ro c e d u re s u s e d ,
and th e b a s ic fin d in g s as th e y p e r t a in to th e ag ed o f C a lif o r n ia .
C h a p te r V p r e s e n ts a n a n a ly s is o f th e fin d in g s as th e y a r e
r e le v a n t to th e r o le o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in th e e d u c a tio n o f
th e a g e d .
C h a p te r V I p re s e n ts th e s u m m a r y and c o n c lu s io n s o f th e
p r o je c t , in c lu d in g re c o m m e n d a tio n s f o r s u g g e s te d g u id e lin e s fo r
c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s .
F i n a l ly a b ib lio g r a p h y and A p p e n d ix a r e in c lu d e d .
C H A P T E R I I
R E V IE W O F T H E L IT E R A T U R E
C h a p te r I d e s c r ib e d th e p r o b le m in v o lv e d in th is stu d y :
T h e d e te r m in a tio n o f th e r o le o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s o f C a l i f
o r n ia in th e e d u c a tio n o f th e a g e d . T h e p u rp o s e o f th is c h a p te r is
to r e v ie w th e p r o fe s s io n a l lit e r a t u r e r e la tin g to the p r o b le m . T h e
m a t e r i a l w i l l be b ro k e n dow n in to s e v e n m a jo r h e a d in g s : (1) A d u lt
an d A g e d L e a r n in g A b ilit ie s ; (2) C h a r a c te r is tic s o f th e A g e d P o p
u la tio n ; (3 ) E d u c a tio n a l N e e d s o f the A g e d ; (4) T h e P o te n tia l
A u d ie n c e o f A g e d P e r s o n s ; (5) E x p e r ie n c e s o f C o lle g e s in O ffe r in g
E d u c a tio n to th e A g e d ; (6) G e n e r a l P r o b le m s in O ffe r in g E d u c a tio n
to th e A g e d ; an d (7 ) O th e r E d u c a tio n a l O p p o rtu n itie s f o r the A g e d .
A d u lt and A g e d L e a r n in g A b ilit ie s
T h e r e h a s b e e n m u c h r e s e a r c h in th e a r e a o f a d u lt an d
a g e d a b ilit ie s in th e le a r n in g f ie ld . T h o r n d ik e , P r e s s e y , W e c h s le r
and o th e rs h a v e done c r o s s -s e c t io n a l s u rv e y s on th e e ffe c t o f
a g in g . (3 0 , 2 3 , 32) T e r m a n and O w e n h a v e c o n d u c te d lo n g itu d in a l
s tu d ie s . (2 9 ) H a n d and C o h e n h a v e s u m m a r iz e d th e r e s u lts o f
th e s e s tu d ie s . (3 7 , 54) T h e r e a r e d iffe r e n c e s o f o p in io n b e tw e e n
th e s e v a r io u s r e s e a r c h e r s , b u t th e r e do s e e m to be s e v e r a l
p a r t ic u la r fa c ts u p o n w h ic h a l l s e e m to a g re e b a s ic a lly :
12
1. P e r s o n s te n d to p e a k in t h e ir e a r ly tw e n tie s and d e c lin e
f a i r l y s lo w ly to s o m e w h e re in t h e ir f if t ie s a f te r w h ic h
th e y d e c lin e in a m o r e p ro n o u n c e d w a y w h e n m e a s u re d on
s ta n d a rd in te llig e n c e te s ts .
2 . T h is c h a n g e , h o w e v e r , does n o t a p p e a r to be so m u c h a
lo s s o f a b ilit y to p e r f o r m as i t does a lo s s in sp eed and
m o tiv a tio n .
3 . A d u lts , in c lu d in g o ld e r a d u lts , s o m e tim e s show d e fin ite
g a in s in c e r t a in a r e a s h a v in g to do w ith t h e ir e x p e rie n c e s
th e s e in c lu d e v o c a b u la r y , g e n e r a l in fo r m a tio n , v e r b a l
re a s o n in g , and ju d g m e n t.
4 . O ld e r a d u lts v a r y as o th e r ag es as f a r as d if fe r in g a b il
it ie s a r e c o n c e rn e d .
5 . T h o s e w ho k e e p m e n t a lly a c tiv e w i l l show le s s m e n ta l
d e c lin e w ith age th a n th o s e w ho d o n 't.
6 . M o tiv a tio n , c o n c e p ts o f s e lf-im p o r ta n c e in s o c ie ty 's
n e e d s , r e s p o n s ib ilitie s and g e n e r a l a ttitu d e s , h a v e m u c h
e ffe c t on th e o ld e r a d u lt's a b ilit y to le a r n . (5 4 , 37)
K a s te n b a u m in a r e c e n t a r t ic le in P s y c h o lo g y T o d a y ,
p o in ts o u t th a t one o f th e re a s o n s f o r th e b e lie f th a t in te lle c t u a l
a b ilit y d e c lin e s w ith age is th a t th e t r a d it io n a l te s ts " a re ju s t n o t
a p p r o p r ia te to th e a g e d . " (4 1 :8 4 ) O ld e r p e rs o n s u s u a lly a r e m o re
a n x io u s in a te s tin g s itu a tio n , and th e te s ts o fte n r e q u ir e
p a r t ic u la r ly good m a n u a l d e x t e r it y and sp eed as w e ll as v is u a l
a c u ity . A n o th e r f a c t o r is th e o ld e r p e rs o n 's f e a r o f f a ilu r e w h ic h
14
c an o v e r r e a c h h is n e e d to a c h ie v e . K a s te n b a u m goes on to sa y :
In c r e a s in g d e m o n s tra tio n s th a t, in th e r ig h t c o n d itio n s ,
o ld p e o p le can le a r n , tie in w ith m y ow n s tu d ie s , w h ic h show
th a t th e c a u tio n th a t in h ib its p e r fo r m a n c e c an e it h e r be
in c r e a s e d o r d e c re a s e d w h e n w e change the a m o u n t o f a v a i l
a b le in fo r m a tio n o r e m o tio n a l s u p p o rt. (4 1 :8 4 )
T h e U n ite d S ta te s E m p lo y m e n t S e r v ic e has b e e n en g ag ed
in r e s e a r c h on the a p p lic a b ilit y o f e x is tin g a p titu d e te s ts to o ld e r
w o r k e r s . In a stu d y in v o lv in g 4 0 0 0 p e rs o n s in fiv e s ta te s ,
r e s e a r c h e r s fo u n d th a t a l l m a jo r a p titu d e s m e a s u re d b y the
G e n e r a l A p titu d e T e s t B a t t e r y (G A T B ) d e c lin e d w ith a g e , bu t
d e c lin e s w e r e s m a ll in th e a r e a o f g e n e r a l le a r n in g and n u m e r ic a l
a p titu d e . D e c lin e s w e r e s o m e w h a t la r g e r in s p a tia l and c le r ic a l
a p titu d e s , m o to r c o o r d in a tio n , e tc . , and the g r e a te s t in fin g e r
d e x t e r it y , f o r m p e r c e p tio n , e tc . T h e age ra n g e f o r th e s e te s ts
w e r e f r o m u n d e r age tw e n ty to age s e v e n ty -tw o . (5 3 )
A s f a r as th e a b ilit ie s o f the ag ed in th e le a r n in g fie ld is
c o n c e rn e d , th e n , th e r e a p p e a rs to be no in fo r m a tio n w h ic h w o u ld
p r e c lu d e th e o ld e r a d u lt f r o m e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s , in fa c t,
th e e v id e n c e p o in ts to o ld e r a d u lts b e in g a t le a s t a v e ra g e s tu d e n ts ,
p r o v id e d t h e ir s p e c ia l lim ita tio n s a r e ta k e n in to c o n s id e ra tio n .
C h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f the A g e d P o p u la tio n
N e u g a r te n p o in ts o u t th a t th e r e has b e e n a lo t o f m i s
in f o r m a t io n a b o u t th e a g e d , p a r t ic u la r ly o f th e ty p e th a t p o r tr a y s
th e e ld e r ly p e rs o n as a p o o r and n e e d y in d iv id u a l u s u a lly e ith e r
p h y s ic a lly o r m e n t a lly i l l . She c o m m e n ts th a t:
15
. . . o ld p e rs o n s do n o t b e c o m e is o la te d and n e g le c te d b y
t h e ir f a m ilie s , a lth o u g h b o th g e n e ra tio n s p r e f e r s e p a ra te
h o u s e h o ld s . O ld p e rs o n s a r e n o t d u m p e d in to m e n ta l h o s p ita ls
b y c r u e l o r in d if f e r e n t c h ild r e n . T h e y a r e n o t n e c e s s a r ily
lo n e ly o r d e s o la te i f th e y liv e a lo n e . F e w o f th e m e v e r show
o v e r t sig n s o f m e n ta l d e t e r io r a t io n o f s e n ilit y , and o n ly a
s m a ll p r o p o r tio n b e c o m e m e n ta lly i l l . . . . T h r e e - f o u r t h s
o f th e p e rs o n s q u e s tio n e d in a r e c e n t n a tio n a l s a m p le r e p o r te d
th a t th e y w e r e s a tis fie d o r v e r y s a tis fie d w ith t h e ir liv e s s in c e
r e t ir e m e n t . . . . M o s t p e rs o n s o v e r s ix t y - f iv e th in k o f
th e m s e lv e s as b e in g in good h e a lth , and th e y a c t a c c o r d in g ly ,
no m a t t e r w h a t t h e ir p h y s ic ia n s th in k . " (4 2 :4 6 )
H e n d r ic k s o n and B a rn e s a g r e e , p o in tin g o u t th a t:
T h e e a r l i e r s te re o ty p e o f th e ag ed p e rs o n as a w o r n -o u t
c ro tc h e ty in d iv id u a l w h ilin g a w a y h is r e m a in in g y e a r s in a
ro c k in g c h a ir w a s n e v e r v e r y a c c u r a te , and is e v e n le s s so
to d a y . (5 5 :1 )
K n o w le s p o in ts o u t th a t a d u lts in g e n e r a l a r e d if f e r e n t th a n
th e g e n e r a l c o lle g e age p o p u la tio n in s e v e r a l im p o r ta n t r e s p e c ts .
T h e y a r e m o r e s e lf - d ir e c t e d and le s s d e p e n d e n t upon o th e r s .
T h e y h a v e a c c u m u la te d a s u b s ta n tia l r e s e r v o ir o f e x p e r ie n c e and
le a r n b e s t th ro u g h te c h n iq u e s w h ic h m a k e u se o f t h e ir e x p e r ie n c e s .
T h e y a r e no lo n g e r p r e p a r in g and b e c o m in g b u t r a t h e r a r e c h a n g in g
and d e v e lo p in g . F in a lly , w h e re a s th e y o u n g e r p e rs o n a p p ro a c h e s
le a r n in g in a s u b je c t-c e n te r e d f r a m e o f m in d , th e a d u lt a p p ro a c h e s
le a r n in g w ith a p r o b le m c e n te re d fr a m e o f m in d . (1 7 )
G a r d n e r p o in ts o u t one lim it a t io n . W e s h o u ld t r y to
r e a c h th e e ld e r ly w h e re th e y a r e .
T h e m e a n in g in t h e ir liv e s is a lr e a d y d e e p ly and i r r e v o
c a b ly a s s o c ia te d w ith c e r ta in p la c e s , p e o p le , o r g a n iz a tio n s ,
and c o m m u n itie s — and th e y w i l l p r o b a b ly be w is e to r e t a in
s o m e i f n o t a l l o f th o se a s s o c ia tio n s . (7 :1 6 1 -1 6 2 )
P o o r k a j in a d o c to r a l d is s e r ta tio n s tu d ie d th e r e la tio n s h ip
b e tw e e n c e r t a in liv in g a r r a n g e m e n ts and " s u c c e s s fu l a g in g . "
16
P o o r k a j c o m p a re d o ld e r p e o p le liv in g in p r iv a te h o m e s o r h o te ls
in P a s a d e n a , n o t c o n n e c te d w ith a n y p a r t ic u la r g ro u p s g iv in g
s p e c ia l s e r v ic e s to th e e ld e r ly , w ith m e m b e r s o f a n o rg a n iz e d
g ro u p in P a s a d e n a , th e P a s a d e n a S e n io r C e n te r , and w ith re s id e n ts
o f U n it I , R o s s m o o r L e is u r e W o r ld , S e a l B e a c h . H is b a s ic p u r
p o se w a s to e v a lu a te th e tw o th e o r ie s o f " s u c c e s s fu l a g in g , " th a t
is , w h e th e r o r n o t s e n io r c itiz e n s w o u ld be m o r e s a tis fie d in an
" a c tiv e " e n v ir o n m e n t o r in a " d is e n g a g e d " e n v ir o n m e n t. H e found
th a t, a m o n g o th e r th in g s , a g e -in te g r a te d c o m m u n itie s s e e m to be
b e s t fo r o ld e r p e rs o n s and th a t b o th the P a s a d e n a g ro u p s h ad h ig h e r
m o r a le th a n th e s e p a ra te d R o s s m o o r g ro u p . (6 7 )
I t a p p e a rs th a t r e t ir e d p e rs o n s b e lie v e th e m s e lv e s to be
in good h e a lth and a b le to e n g a g e in v a rio u s a c t iv it ie s . T r a d it io n a l
c o n c e p ts o f th e a g e d a r e no lo n g e r v a lid . H o w e v e r , th e ag ed a r e
d if f e r e n t th a n th e t r a d it io n a l c o lle g e -a g e y o u th , n e e d to be re a c h e d
th ro u g h s o m e w h a t d if f e r e n t m e th o d s , and p r o b a b ly w i l l be h a p p ie s t
i f th e y c an r e m a in w ith in f a m i l i a r s u rro u n d in g s .
E d u c a tio n a l N e e d s o f th e A g e d
T h e s tu d y o f th e e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s o f o ld e r p e rs o n s is
s t i l l a r e la t i v e ly n e w a r e a b u t th e r e a r e s e v e r a l re s p e c te d
a u th o r itie s in th e f ie ld w h o h a v e g e n e r a liz e d f r o m t h e ir e x p e r ie n c e s .
G a r d n e r s u g g e s te d th a t a m a n o r w o m a n o f r e t ir e m e n t
age h as fo u r m a in p r o b le m s to fa c e : (1) in c o m e , (2) h e a lth ,
(3) h o u s in g , and (4 ) in t e r e s t and p u rp o s e in l i f e . T h e
fo u r th , a c c o r d in g to G a r d n e r is th e n e g le c te d a r e a . W e n e e d to
17
to h e lp p e o p le p r e p a r e f o r r e t ir e m e n t an d p la n a h e a d . M i d - c a r e e r
c lin ic s and c o u n s e lin g s e r v ic e s m a y be o f s ig n ific a n t v a lu e . H e
s u g g es ts th e s e m a y be h e ld b y e m p lo y in g o rg a n iz a tio n s o r b y
s c h o o ls , u n iv e r s it ie s and u n io n s . (7 :1 5 3 -1 5 4 )
D o n a h u e s u g g e s te d p r o g r a m s f o r th e ag ed w h ic h p ro v id e
in fo r m a tio n a b o u t th e p ro c e s s o f g ro w in g o ld and w h ic h d e v e lo p a
p h ilo s o p h y f o r g ro w in g o ld . She a ls o h as a d v o c a te d tr a in in g
a n d /o r r e t r a in in g in k n o w le d g e and s k ills w h ic h w i l l a llo w the
o ld e r p e rs o n to be a c o n trib u tin g m e m b e r o f h is s o c ie ty and th u s o f
v a lu e to h im s e lf an d h is s o c ie ty . (3 6 )
F ie ld h as s ta te d th a t th e r e a r e th r e e a r e a s in w h ic h e d u c a
tio n can h e lp th e a g e d :
1. P r o g r a m s to e n r ic h and e x p a n d th e h o riz o n s o f th e ag ed
2 . T r a in in g w h ic h w o u ld h e lp th e ag ed to h e lp o th e r g ro u p s
3. In fo r m a tio n a b o u t a g in g and th e a p p r e c ia tio n o f th e c o n
tr ib u tio n s p o s s ib le f o r th e a g e d to s o c ie ty . (6)
F r o e lic h e r h as s u g g e s te d th a t s c h o o ls sh o u ld p r e s e n t
c o u rs e s f o r o ld e r a d u lts in p h y s ic a l c h an g es o f o ld e r p e rs o n s ,
m e n ta l c h a n g e s , e m p lo y m e n t p r o b le m s , fin a n c ia l c o n tr o l, c o m
m u n ity a c t iv it ie s fo r o ld e r p e rs o n s and r e t r a in in g fo r th o s e w ho
m a y w is h to w o r k f u ll o r p a r t t im e . (3 9 )
T h e 1961 W h ite H o u s e C o n fe re n c e on A g in g s u g g e s te d
th a t th e a g in g n e e d c o u rs e s in b a s ic e d u c a tio n , p u b lic a f f a ir s
and c u r r e n t e v e n ts , f a m ily liv in g and r e lig io u s e d u c a tio n . (6 0 )
18
K n o w le s h as s u g g e s te d th a t in the p ro c e s s o f a d ju s tin g to
r e t ir e m e n t and to re d u c e d in c o m e , s e n io r c itiz e n s n e e d r e t ir e m e n t
c o u rs e s , S o c ia l S e c u r ity and a d v is o r y in fo r m a tio n , tr a in in g fo r
o p p o rtu n itie s f o r c o m m u n ity s e r v ic e , and s m a ll b u s in e s s in f o r m a
tio n . (1 5 )
H u n s a k e r and T a r c h e r s ta te d th a t th e a d u lt e d u c a to r, to
th e e x te n t th a t he is w o r k in g w ith th e a g in g , h is ta s k is to g iv e th e m
c o n fid e n c e , to h e lp th e m d e v e lo p s k ills and t a le n t s , and to h e lp
th e m r e a liz e th a t th e y a r e s t i l l u s e fu l and im p o r ta n t c itiz e n s . (11)
G a r d n e r has s u g g e s te d a m o d e l o f lif e c y c le w h ic h
s tr e s s e s c o m m u n ity s e r v ic e f o r o ld e r p e rs o n s and w h ic h h as th r e e
c y c le s : s tu d y , w o r k and c o m m u n ity s e r v ic e . T h e s tu d y c o m p o n e n t
w o u ld be d o m in a n t in th e e a r ly y e a r s and a g a in in th e la t e r y e a r s
w h ile th e w o r k c o m p o n e n t w o u ld be d o m in a n t in m id d le lif e and
th e c o m m u n ity s e r v ic e c o m p o n e n t m ig h t h a v e an e a r ly p e a k b u t
w o u ld n o r m a lly p e a k d u rin g th e r e t ir e m e n t y e a r s . S uch a c y c le
r e q u ir e s e d u c a tio n a l t r a in in g f o r its s u c c e s s . (7 :1 5 8 )
T h e P o t e n tia l A u d ie n c e o f A g e d P e rs o n s
H e n r ic k s o n and B a rn e s found th a t th e p o te n tia l a u d ie n c e
o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s in te r e s te d in a tte n d in g e d u c a tio n a l a c tiv itie s
ju s t if y e x p e r im e n tin g w ith c la s s e s and a c tiv itie s b o th on c a m p u s
and a t c o m m u n ity c e n te r s . S p e c if ic a lly th e y found th a t a b o u t
t h i r t y p e r c e n t o f th o s e p e o p le o v e r s ix t y - f iv e p r e s e n t e x c e lle n t
ta r g e ts f o r c o lle g e s b e c a u s e th e y a r e h ig h s c h o o l b a c k g ro u n d
19
p e o p le o r h ig h e r , and a r e m o b ile , h a v e m o r e fin a n c ia l r e s e r v e s ,
e tc . (5 5 )
Jo h n s to n e and R iv e r a d id a s tu d y w h ic h w as an o v e r v ie w .
o f c o n te m p o r a r y (1 9 6 2 ) a d u lt e d u c a tio n th ro u g h o u t th e U n ite d
S ta te s . T h is s tu d y in d ic a te d th a t a b o u t h a lf o f th e a d u lt p o p u
la tio n b e c o m e s in v o lv e d in so m e f o r m o f a d u lt e d u c a tio n . P a r t i
c ip a n ts e n r o ll in a d u lt e d u c a tio n b e c a u s e : (1) th e y w is h to p r e p a r e
f o r n e w jo b s ; (2) th e y w is h to a d v a n c e on p r e s e n t jo b s ; (3) o f t h e ir
r e la tio n s h ip s w ith o th e r p e o p le ; and (4) o f ch an g es in th e s ta tu s and
c o m p o s itio n o f t h e ir f a m ilie s . (13)
A ls o im p o r t a n t w a s th e fin d in g th a t as p e o p le g et o ld e r
th e y a r e m o r e l ik e ly to ta k e c o u rs e s f o r o th e r th a n s t r ic t ly p r a g
m a t ic r e a s o n s . In t e r e s t in g ly , i t w a s found th a t as m o r e e d u c a tio n a l
f a c ilit ie s w e r e m a d e a v a ila b le , m o r e a d u lts u s e d th e m . O ld e r
a d u lts a ls o d e s ir e m o r e in f o r m a l m e th o d s and s itu a tio n s th a n is
t y p ic a l in th e s c h o o l o r c o lle g e to d a y . P e rs o n s w ho in i t i a l l y h ave
a tw e lfth g ra d e e d u c a tio n a r e m o r e lik e ly to lo o k to w a rd c o lle g e
f o r c la s s e s and c o u rs e s th a n to s e c o n d a ry s c h o o ls .
T h o r n to n in T h e C o m m u n ity J u n io r C o lle g e s ta te s :
. . . th e r e t i r e d c itiz e n s c o n s titu te a n o th e r im p o r ta n t
c lie n t e le f o r th e a d u lt p r o g r a m s o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e .
H e r e is a g ro u p , fr e e d o f th e p r e s s u r e s o f v o c a tio n a lis m ,
im m e d ia c y , an d p r a c t ic a lit y , w ho a r e t r u ly re a d y f o r l ib e r a l
e d u c a tio n . T h e y b r in g to th e c la s s r o o m e x p e rie n c e and
o fte n w is d o m ; th e y s e e k n o t c r e d its b u t le a r n in g . F r e q u e n tly
th e d is c u s s io n s o f one c la s s s e s s io n p ro v id e th e m a fo cu s
o f in t e r e s t an d a to p ic o f c o n v e rs a tio n u n til th e n e x t m e e tin g .
N o r c an i t be a rg u e d c o n s is te n tly th a t, s in c e th e y do n o t
p la n to use t h e ir la te -w o n e d u c a tio n p r o d u c tiv e ly in tra d e
an d in in d u s tr y , th e y a r e n o t e n title d to it . W o rth y u se of
20
le is u r e t im e h a s lo n g b e e n one o f th e g o a ls o f A m e r ic a n
E d u c a tio n , an d f o r m a n y r e t ir e d p e rs o n s th e o rg a n iz e d p u r
s u it o f le a r n in g f o r its ow n sake p ro v id e s a n a b s o rb in g
in t e r e s t w h ic h k e e p s th e m a l e r t . (3 1 :3 6 )
E x p e r ie n c e s o f C o lle g e s in O ffe r in g E d u c a tio n to th e A g e d
In 1 9 6 6 , th e S ta te U n iv e r s it y o f N e w Y o r k a t F a r m in g d a le
d e v e lo p e d a n o n c r e d it d a y tim e p r o g r a m c o n s is tin g o f a te n -s e s s io n
c la s s e n title d " N e w H o r iz o n s f o r L a t e r Y e a r s . " T h is w a s a p r o
g r a m f o r o ld e r m e n and w o m e n p r e p a r in g f o r r e t ir e m e n t . T h e
c u r r ic u lu m in c lu d e d c o n s id e ra tio n o f p h y s ic a l and p s y c h o lo g ic a l
n e e d s o f o ld e r p e r s o n s , in c o m e m a in te n a n c e and r e t ir e m e n t
p la n n in g , c o n s tr u c tiv e u s e o f le is u r e t im e , p la n n in g f o r c o n tin u e d
e d u c a tio n and e x p lo r a tio n o f o p p o rtu n itie s in p a id e m p lo y m e n t and
v o lu n te e r s e r v ic e s . (59)
T h e e v a lu a tio n o f th e p r o g r a m in d ic a te d th a t th e " im p a c t
on th e in d iv id u a ls w a s d r a m a t ic . " T y p ic a l re s p o n s e s o f in d iv id u a ls
to q u e s tio n n a ir e s w e r e : " I f e e l tw e n ty y e a r s y o u n g e r, " "N o w m y
lif e h a s m o r e m e a n in g , " and th e p r o g r a m "w as too s h o r t, " o r i t
en d ed "to o so o n . "
T h e m a jo r p r o b le m c o n n e c te d w ith th is p r o g r a m w as
tr a n s p o r t a t io n . T h e U n iv e r s it y en d e d up g iv in g s tip e n d s to so m e
p a r tic ip a n ts to a id th is p r o b le m .
P o lk J u n io r C o lle g e in B a r to w , F lo r id a , u p o n d is c o v e rin g
th a t m o r e th a n te n p e r c e n t o f th e c o u n ty 's p o p u la tio n (2 1 5 ,0 0 0 )
w a s r e t ir e d o r o v e r s ix t y - f iv e , d e c id e d to d e v e lo p a p r o g r a m to
s e rv e th e n e e d s o f th is s e c tio n o f th e p o p u la tio n . T h e p r o g r a m
21
c o n s is te d o f tw o -h o u r s e m in a r s h e ld tw ic e w e e k ly fo r a s ix -w e e k
p e r io d c o v e rin g s e le c te d to p ic s o f in t e r e s t to s e n io r c itiz e n s .
A tte n d a n c e r e a c h e d a p p r o x im a te ly 100 p e r s e s s io n w ith 500 to
60 0 a tte n d in g th e m e e tin g s on a r e g u la r b a s is . T o p ic s g e n e r a lly
fo c u s e d on h e a lth , s o c ia l s e c u r ity , m e d ic a r e , h is to r y , in t e r n a
tio n a l r e la tio n s and c u r r e n t e v e n ts . (48)
T u c k m a n fo u n d in 1955 th a t tw e n ty -e ig h t c o lle g e s and
u n iv e r s it ie s w e r e a lr e a d y c o n d u c tin g e d u c a tio n a l a c tiv itie s fo r
o ld e r p e rs o n s and th a t s e v e r a l m o r e h ad su ch a c t iv it ie s in th e
p la n n in g s ta te . E n r o llm e n t in th e s e c o u rs e s and a c t iv it ie s w as
o v e r 1 0 ,0 0 0 . T h e la r g e s t p e rc e n ta g e o f th e e n r o lle e s , h o w e v e r,
w e r e in t r a in in g p r o g r a m s to p r e p a r e th e m s e lv e s to w o r k w ith
o ld e r a d u lts . (5 5 :5 )
D ix o n r e p o r ts w h a t he c a lls a ty p ic a l r e a c tio n to th e
a c c e p tin g o f r e s p o n s ib ilitie s to s u p p ly o ld e r c itiz e n s w ith stu d y
o p p o r tu n itie s . H e u s e s E v e r e t t J u n io r C o lle g e in E v e r e t t ,
W a s h in g to n , and M a n a te e J u n io r C o lle g e in B ra d e n to n , F lo r id a ,
as e x a m p le s . M a n a te e J u n io r C o lle g e ru n s p r o g r a m s fo r s e n io r
c itiz e n s f r o m 9 :3 0 to 1 1 :3 0 a . m . fiv e d ays a w e e k and has fo u n d
its c la s s on H e a lth fu l L iv in g f o r S e n io r C itiz e n s as a v e r y w o r t h
w h ile e f f o r t . E v e r e t t J u n io r C o lle g e h as s p e c ia liz e d in p o s t
r e t ir e m e n t e d u c a tio n and h as n e w ly e n te re d th e f ie ld o f p r e
r e t ir e m e n t e d u c a tio n . B o th o f th e s e h a v e a p p a r e n tly m e t w ith c o n
s id e r a b le s u c c e s s . (5 1 :5 7 )
22
R e p o r ts o f th e s e ty p e s te n d to c o n c e n tra te on s u c c e s s fu l
v e n tu re s and to ig n o r e th e f a ilu r e s . R e s e a r c h m a t e r i a l is s c a r c e
in th e a r e a o f p a r t ic u la r e x p e rie n c e s o f in d iv id u a l c o lle g e s , b u t th e
in fo r m a tio n p re s e n te d does show th a t a tte m p ts a r e b e in g m a d e a n d ,
w h e n w e ll p r e p a r e d , r e s u lt in c o n s id e ra b le s u c c e s s .
G e n e r a l P r o b le m s in O ffe r in g E d u c a tio n to th e A g e d
T h e r e s e e m to be tw o g e n e r a l a r e a s o f p r o b le m s in o f f e r
in g e d u c a tio n to th e a g e d , one f r o m th e ag ed p o in t o f v ie w and one
f r o m th e c o lle g e p o in t o f v ie w . F o r c o n v e n ie n c e and u n d e rs ta n d in g
th e s e tw o a r e a s a r e ta k e n s e p a r a te ly .
T h e c o lle g e s . - - A g e n e r a l p r o b le m o f c o n c e rn to th e
c o lle g e s is in th e a r e a o f b e in g a b le to d e v e lo p a t r u l y g o a l-
f u lf illin g p r o g r a m fo r th e ag ed and n o t ju s t h it - a n d - m is s in d iv id u a l
a tte m p ts . M a r t in e z in a d is s e r ta tio n s u rv e y e d a d u lt e d u c a tio n in
C a lif o r n ia c o n c e n tra tin g on th e c r i t e r i a n e c e s s a r y fo r th e e v a lu a
tio n o f th e a d u lt e d u c a tio n c u r r ic u lu m . M a r t in e z e x a m in e d fiv e
a r e a s o f a d u lt e d u c a tio n c u r r ic u lu m . T h e y in c lu d e d th e p h ilo s o p h y
o f th e c u r r ic u lu m , th e c h a r a c te r o r p u rp o s e o f th e c u r r ic u lu m ,
th e p la n n in g o f th e c u r r ic u lu m , th e im p r o v e m e n t o f th e c u r r ic u lu m
and th e e v a lu a tio n o f the c u r r ic u lu m . (6 5 )
M a r t in e z c o n c lu d e d th a t one o f th e m a jo r p r o b le m s o f
to d a y 's a d u lt e d u c a tio n is in c o h e r e n t c u r r ic u lu m . H e c o n c lu d e d
th a t c u r r ic u lu m s m a y be n e e d -m e e tin g b u t n o t g o a l- f u lf illin g .
P a r t i c u l a r l y a p r o b le m w as th e v a g u e n e s s o f an n o u n c e d o b je c tiv e s .
23
T h is r e s e a r c h w o u ld in d ic a te th a t c o lle g e s sh o u ld p la n
o v e r a ll o b je c tiv e s f o r v a r io u s a d u lt p r o g r a m s in c lu d in g th o s e
d e v e lo p e d fo r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s . T h is , o f c o u rs e , m e a n s n e c e s s a r y
s ta ff t im e b e in g a llo tte d , a d e q u a te fin a n c e s , e tc .
J a c o b s c o m p la in s o f th e s a m e p r o b le m :
A m a jo r it y o f e d u c a tio n a l o ffe r in g s f o r m id d le -a g e d and
o ld e r a d u lts , h a v in g o r ig in a te d le s s th a n a d e cad e a g o , and
a b o u t 50 p e r c e n t w ith in th e p a s t s ix y e a r s , t r i a l and e r r o r
in p r o g r a m m in g s t i l l lo o m la r g e . F o r th is re a s o n , m o r e
s y s te m a tic s u rv e y s and a s s e s s m e n ts o f o ld e r a d u lt n e e d s and
in te r e s ts a r e p a r a m o u n t, e s p e c ia lly a t th e lo c a l le v e l. (5 1 :5 3 )
M i l l e r a ls o re c o g n iz e s th e p ro b le m s in th is a r e a and
h a s s a id :
S in c e c o n te m p o r a r y s o c ie ty lik e ly w i l l d e m a n d s t i l l m o r e
a s s is ta n c e f r o m h ig h e r e d u c a tio n , in s titu tio n s w i l l be te m p te d
to re s p o n d d ir e c t ly and q u ic k ly to u rg e n t c la im s r a t h e r th a n
to c a r e f u lly p la n n e d o b je c tiv e s . ( I6 : x v )
K n o w le s g o es f u r t h e r , h o w e v e r , th a n m e r e ly n o tin g th e
p r o b le m , he a ls o p re s e n ts a s e r ie s o f s u g g e s te d o p e r a tio n a l
o b je c tiv e s fo r in s titu tio n s o f h ig h e r e d u c a tio n . T h e s e a r e im p o r
ta n t to th is a s p e c t o f th e stu d y and in c lu d e th e fo llo w in g :
C o n c e rn in g o r g a n iz a tio n a l c lim a te and s tr u c tu r e :
1. A d y n a m ic p o lic y b a s e f o r a d u lt e d u c a tio n is n e e d e d in
th e in s titu tio n and m u s t be m a in ta in e d .
2 . A l l r e le v a n t p a r tie s m u s t be in c lu d e d in th e p o lic y
m a k in g and m a n a g e m e n t o f th e p r o g r a m .
3 . A h ig h le v e l o f s ta ff s e r v ic e to th e p r o g r a m is n e e d e d .
4 . A n in s titu tio n a l a tm o s p h e re c o n d u c iv e to a d u lt le a r n in g
is n e c e s s a r y .
C o n c e rn in g a s s e s s m e n t o f n e e d s and in te r e s ts :
I t is n e c e s s a r y to m a in ta in an u p -to - d a te in v e n to r y o f
th e c o m m u n ity n e e d s and o f in d iv id u a l n e e d s and in te r e s ts
w h ic h th e p r o g r a m sh o u ld be s e r v in g .
C o n c e rn in g d e fin itio n o f p u rp o s e s and o b je c tiv e s :
A s ta te m e n t o f p u rp o s e s m u s t be m a in ta in e d w h ic h is u p -
t o -d a te in o r d e r to p ro v id e d ir e c t io n , c o h e re n c e , and
r e le v a n c e to th e p r o g r a m .
O p e r a tio n a l and e d u c a tio n a l o b je c tiv e s m u s t be d e v e lo p e d
to p r o v id e c le a r g u id a n c e to p r o g r a m d e v e lo p m e n t,
o p e r a tio n , and e v a lu a tio n .
C o n c e rn in g p r o g r a m d e s ig n :
I t is n e c e s s a r y to m a in ta in a s e n s e o f a r t is t ic q u a lity
in th e d e s ig n .
T h e p r o g r a m n e e d s to s e r v e th e p u rp o s e s and n e e d s f o r
w h ic h i t w as in te n d e d .
C o n c e rn in g p r o g r a m o p e ra tio n :
T h e h ig h e s t q u a lity fa c u lty o f le a d e r s and in s tr u c to r s
sh o u ld be p r o v id e d .
T h e p h y s ic a l e n v ir o n m e n t m u s t be c o n d u c iv e to a d u lt
le a r n in g .
A d m in is t r a t iv e s e r v ic e s n e e d to be a v a ila b le to f a c ilit a t e
th e e d u c a tio n a l o b je c tiv e s o f th e p r o g r a m .
P r o m o t io n a l and p u b lic r e la tio n s s e r v ic e s a r e n e c e s s a r y
to a d v a n c e th e o b je c tiv e s o f th e p r o g r a m .
25
5. F in a n c ia l r e s o u r c e s and p ro c e d u re s m u s t be a d e q u a te
to m a in ta in a h ig h q u a lity p r o g r a m .
C o n c e rn in g p r o g r a m e v a lu a tio n :
In f o r m a t io n m u s t be o b ta in e d to p ro m o te c o n tin u o u s p r o
g r a m im p r o v e m e n t. (1 6 :4 9 -5 3 )
T h e a g e d . - - T h e p r o b le m s a s s o c ia te d w ith e d u c a tio n so
f a r as th e ag ed a r e c o n c e rn e d , d e a l m a in ly w ith th e c lim a te and
p h y s ic a l e n v ir o n m e n t o f th e c la s s e s .
E d u c a to r s s e e m to h a v e n e g le c te d th is a r e a o f c o n c e rn ,
e s p e c ia lly th o s e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e e d u c a to rs w ho f e e l th a t a l l
a d u lt a n d /o r ag ed p e rs o n s sh o u ld be a b le to e n r o ll in and be f u lly
a t h o m e in and s a tis fie d w ith r e g u la r c o lle g e c la s s e s , c la s s e s
w h ic h a r e g e n e r a lly m a d e up f o r and c o n d u c te d f o r a r a t h e r yo u n g
g ro u p o f p e o p le .
P r e s s e y h as o b s e rv e d th a t th e o b s ta c le s to e d u c a tio n a l
o p p o rtu n ity f o r o ld e r p e rs o n s in c lu d e su ch th in g s as a w k w a rd
p h y s ic a l a r r a n g e m e n ts , u n s u ita b le s o c ia l s itu a tio n s , n ig h t c la s s e s
(w h e n e x p e r ie n c e sho w s d a y c la s s e s a r e b e s t), in a c c e s s ib le r o o m s ,
to o d is ta n t lo c a tio n s , p a r k in g p r o b le m s , e tc . (5 1 :2 2 )
J a c o b s c o n c u rs , a rg u in g th a t th e n e e d f o r d a y tim e c la s s e s
and a c t iv it ie s f o r th is ag e le v e l is d e f in it e ly in d ic a te d . H e a ls o
p o in ts o u t th a t s e p a ra te c la s s e s f o r o ld e r p e rs o n s is n e c e s s a r y
a t le a s t p a r t o f th e t im e . (5 1 :5 3 )
G a r d n e r h as p o in te d o u t as n o te d e a r l i e r , th a t w e sh o u ld
t r y to r e a c h th e e ld e r ly w h e re th e y a r e . (s e e p ag e 15)
26
In 1 9 6 7 , D e G a b r ie le , th e n C o n s u lta n t in A d u lt E d u c a tio n
in th e C a lif o r n ia S ta te D e p a r tm e n t o f E d u c a tio n , c o m p le te d a
s h o rt r e v ie w o f th e e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s a v a ila b le to o ld e r
a d u lts in C a lif o r n ia 's p u b lic a d u lt e d u c a tio n p r o g r a m . T h e stu d y
s h o w ed th e fo llo w in g p ro b le m s to be o f c o n c e rn in the p la n n in g and
o r g a n iz a tio n o f p r o g r a m s f o r o ld e r a d u lts :
1. T r a n s p o r ta tio n to and f r o m s c h o o l
2 . F in d in g s u ita b le m e e tin g p la c e s f o r c la s s e s
3. T h e n e e d fo r m o r e d a y c la s s e s and w ith i t th e p r o b le m
o f fin d in g a d e q u a te f a c ilit ie s and te a c h e rs
4 . B u d g e t lim it a tio n s o f th e s c h o o l d i s t r ic t to p r o v id e
e d u c a tio n a l p r o g r a m s f o r o ld e r a d u lts
5. L a c k o f m o tiv a tio n and in t e r e s t on th e p a r t o f o ld e r
a d u lts f o r p la n n e d ty p e s o f e d u c a tio n a l e x p e rie n c e s
6 . Id e n tify in g th e r e a l e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s o f o ld e r a d u lts
7. F in d in g w e ll- q u a lif ie d te a c h e r s w ith s p e c ific tr a in in g
and a p p r e c ia tio n o f th e p r o b le m s o f ag in g
8 . S e c u rin g c o m m u n ity c o o p e ra tio n and s u p p o rt fo r
e d u c a tio n a l p r o g r a m s
9 . M a in ta in in g s a tis fa c to r y and c o n s is te n t a tte n d a n c e
10. L a c k o f good la y le a d e r s . (5 0 :6 )
O th e r E d u c a tio n a l O p p o r tu n itie s f o r th e A g e d
A c c o r d in g to D ix o n , th e L o s A n g e le s C it y S c h o o ls h a v e
d e v e lo p e d a m o r e e x te n s iv e p r o g r a m o f s e r v ic e s and c la s s e s fo r
th e ag e d th a n a n y o th e r p u b lic s c h o o l s y s te m . W ith th e s u p e r
v is io n o f an a s s is ta n t s u p e rin te n d e n t and a te a c h e r -c o n s u lta n t
on g e ro n to lo g y , th e L o s A n g e le s C it y S c h o o l D i s t r i c t a c q u a in te d
th e d is t r ic t 's a d m in is t r a t o r s , s u p e r v is o r s and te a c h e r s w ith th e
a s p e c t o f s p e c ia l e d u c a tio n fo r th e a g e d and e n c o u ra g e d th e
d e v e lo p m e n t o f p r o g r a m s th ro u g h o u t th e c it y . T h e d is t r ic t a ls o
h e lp e d w ith s u g g e s te d c o u rs e o u tlin e s , e tc . O th e r a d u lt s c h o o lp r o -
g ra m s a r e in o p e r a tio n in v a r io u s p a r ts o fth e U n ite d S ta te s . (5 1 :5 7 -5 8 )
F ie ld lis t s o th e r ty p e s o f e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s fo r
th e ag e d w h ic h in c lu d e th e fo llo w in g :
1. P u b lic l ib r a r i e s d e v e lo p in g s p e c ia l re a d in g p r o g r a m s such
as th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f " c o r n e r s f o r t ir e d e y e s , " w h ic h
p ro v id e b e t t e r lig h tin g , la r g e - t y p e b o o k s , ta lk in g b o o k s ,
s p e c ia l e d itio n s o f n e w s p a p e rs , e tc .
2 . T h e In s titu te f o r R e t ir e d P r o fe s s io n a ls w h ic h s e e k s to
p r o v id e f u r t h e r e d u c a tio n f o r r e t ir e d p ro fe s s io n a ls w ho
d e s ir e to u se t h e ir f r e e tim e c o n s tr u c tiv e ly . A n in t e r e s t
in g a s p e c t o f th e p r o g r a m w a s th a t th e y h a v e u s e d t h e ir
ow n r e t i r e d stu d e n ts to te a c h o th e r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s in
e x t r a - c u r r i c u l a r c la s s e s .
3. T h e S tu d y C e n te r o f th e W a s h in g to n S c h o o l o f P s y c h ia t r y
o p en ed a F o r u m f o r R e t ir e d P r o fe s s io n a ls w h ic h c o v e rs a
n u m b e r o f a r e a s in c lu d in g th e a r ts and h u m a n itie s , r e
t r a in in g , v o lu n ta r y c o m m u n ity s e r v ic e s , e tc .
4 . T h e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g o f th e A m e r ic a n A s s o
c ia tio n o f R e t ir e d P e rs o n s and th e N a tio n a l R e t ir e d
T e a c h e r s A s s o c ia tio n h a s a v a r ie d c u r r ic u lu m o f so m e
4 0 0 s u b je c ts . T h is o r g a n iz a tio n is one o f th e s p o n s o rin g
a g e n c ie s o f th is s tu d y .
5. C h u rc h e s in m a n y p la c e s th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n try o ffe r
s p e c ia l c la s s e s and p r o g r a m s f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s
in c lu d in g b ib le s tu d y , d is c u s s io n g ro u p s , and s o c ia l
w o r k .
6 . T h e O ffic e o f V o c a tio n a l R e h a b ilita tio n o f th e D e p a r tm e n t
o f H e a lth E d u c a tio n and W e lf a r e , o rg a n iz e d a t w o - a n d - a -
h a lf y e a r te le v is io n s e r ie s d e s ig n e d to re a c h s o c ia lly
is o la te d r e t i r e d p e rs o n s and to g iv e th e m an o p p o rtu n ity
to f e e l a p a r t o f a g ro u p d o in g w o rth w h ile p r o je c ts and
th u s to b e c o m e m o r e a w a re o f t h e ir ow n p o te n tia ls and to
d e v e lo p a d e s ir e to u se th e m .
7 . T h e A m e r ic a n A s s o c ia tio n o f R e t ir e d P e r s o n s (A A R P ),
in a d d itio n to its In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g , t r ie s to
s tim u la te o ld e r p e rs o n s to a tte n d e d u c a tio n a l and c u lt u r a l
e v e n ts , p r o v id e s s p e c ia l t r ip s and to u rs and p u b lis h e s a
m a g a z in e , M o d e r n M a t u r i t y , r e fle c tin g th e in te r e s ts o f
th e g ro u p . T h is a s s o c ia tio n is a s p o n s o rin g a g e n t f o r
th is s tu d y . (6 :1 3 9 -1 4 9 )
P a r k and r e c r e a tio n d is t r ic t s , l i b r a r i e s , Y M C A - Y W C A 's ,
lo c a l r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s , and o th e r s u c h a g e n c ie s a ls o p ro v id e so m e
ty p e s o f e d u c a tio n a l a c t iv it ie s d e p e n d in g up o n t h e ir fin a n c ia l
r e s o u r c e s an d p h ilo s o p h ic a l and in s titu tio n a l g o a ls .
C h a p te r S u m m a r y
T h e r e s e a r c h in c lu d e d in th is c h a p te r h as p ro v id e d th e
fo llo w in g in f o r m a tio n :
1. C u r r e n t r e s e a r c h p ro v id e s a d e q u a te p r o o f th a t o ld e r
a d u lts c a n le a r n and le a r n w e ll. T h e a tm o s p h e re m a y
w e ll n e e d to be d if f e r e n t th a n th a t f o r y o u n g e r a d u lts in
o r d e r th a t th e o ld e r a d u lts m a y fu n c tio n a t t h e ir b e s t.
H ig h e r e d u c a tio n c a n m a k e s ig n ific a n t c o n trib u tio n s
to s e r v in g th e e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s o f th e o ld e r a d u lt.
P r o g r a m s n e e d to be w e ll-p la n n e d and g o a l- f u lf illin g .
T h e p o te n tia l a u d ie n c e f o r c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s is
la r g e en o u g h to ju s t if y e x p e r im e n tin g w ith c la s s e s and
a c t iv it ie s b o th on c a m p u s and a t v a r io u s c o m m u n ity
f a c ilit ie s .
A s m o r e e d u c a tio n a l f a c ilit ie s a r e m a d e a v a ila b le , i t
is l i k e l y m o r e a d u lts w i l l u se th e m .
W e ll-p la n n e d p r o g r a m s fo r o ld e r a d u lts w h ic h a ls o h a v e
s o lv e d th e tr a n s p o r ta tio n p r o b le m s r e s u lt in s ig n ific a n t
a tte n d a n c e .
P r o g r a m s w h ic h c o v e r th e b a s ic p ro b le m s and ch an g es
in h e r e n t in r e t ir e m e n t a r e th e m in im u m to w h ic h o ld e r
a d u lts w i l l re s p o n d .
T r a n s p o r t a t io n s e e m s to be th e g r e a te s t s in g le o b s ta c le
f o r th e ag e d in a tte n d in g c la s s e s .
C la s s e s n e e d to be o ffe r e d d u rin g th e d a y .
C la s s e s n e e d to be o ffe r e d a t f a c ilit ie s c lo s e to th e h o m e s
o f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s .
CHAPTER III
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T H E C O L L E G E S
T h is c h a p te r p re s e n ts th e in s tr u m e n ts o f th e in v e s tig a tio n
and th e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d as th e y p e r t a in to th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s
o f C a lif o r n ia and th e r e s u lts o f th e in v e s tig a tio n . T h e c h a p te r
is d iv id e d in to fiv e s e c tio n s : (1) T h e In v e s tig a tio n ; (2) G e n e r a l
S ta tu s o f C o m m u n ity C o lle g e E d u c a tio n f o r th e A g e d ; (3) P r o c e d u r e s
and P r a c t ic e s ; (4) P r o g r a m s and C o u rs e O f fe r in g s ; and (5) C o m
m e n ts and R e a c tio n s .
T h e In v e s tig a tio n
A q u e s tio n n a ire w a s u s e d to o b ta in in fo r m a tio n f r o m th e
n in e ty -tw o c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in C a lif o r n ia p e r ta in in g to t h e ir
c u r r e n t o ffe r in g s as th e y r e la te d to r e t ir e d p e rs o n s and o th e r
r e la t e d p r o b le m s and is s u e s .
T h e q u e s tio n n a ire w a s d e v e lo p e d f r o m a s e r ie s o f le t t e r s
and c o m m u n ic a tio n s as w e ll as in f o r m a l d is c u s s io n s w ith r e t i r e
m e n t g ro u p s , T h e In s t itu t e o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g , and s e v e r a l
p r o fe s s io n a l e d u c a to r s . T h e c o m p le te d q u e s tio n n a ire w a s th e n
s e n t f o r a t r i a l r u n to th e D e a n o f E v e n in g D iv is io n /C o n tin u in g
E d u c a tio n a t th e fo llo w in g c o lle g e s :
B a k e r s f ie ld C o lle g e
M e r r i t t C o lle g e
S a n ta M o n ic a C o lle g e
30
31
A f t e r m in o r r e v is io n s , e n d o rs e m e n t and s u p p o rt w e r e
r e q u e s te d f o r th e s u rv e y f r o m th e C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity C o lle g e
C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n A s s o c ia tio n (C C C E A ). T h e r e s e a r c h , its
p r o c e d u r e s and in s tr u m e n ts w e r e d is c u s s e d a t a m e e tin g o f th e
C C C E A a t L o n g B e a c h C ity C o lle g e on D e c e m b e r 10, 1 9 7 1 . F o r m a l
a p p r o v a l w a s g iv e n to th e r e s e a r c h a t th a t tim e and a l e t t e r d a te d
J a n u a r y 3 , 1 9 7 2 , e n d o rs in g th e s tu d y and s ig n e d b y th e P r e s id e n t
o f th e C C C E A , D r . R u s s e l L . L e w is , S a n ta M o n ic a C o lle g e , w a s
p r o v id e d u s in g th e le tte r h e a d o f th e C C C E A . T h is le t t e r w a s s u b
s e q u e n tly d u p lic a te d and m a ile d o u t w ith ..a c h q u e s tio n n a ir e , (s e e
A p p e n d ix B )
T h e q u e s tio n n a ire (s e e A p p e n d ix B) w a s s e n t to e a c h o f th e
n in e ty -tw o c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s a d d re s s e d to th e D e a n o f E v e n in g
D iv is io n /C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n . In s o m e c a s e s th e d e a n s p a s s e d
th e q u e s tio n n a ire a lo n g to o th e r p e rs o n s w ho w e r e m o r e d ir e c t ly
in v o lv e d w ith th is a s p e c t o f th e c o lle g e p r o g r a m . In c lu d e d w ith
e a c h o f th e q u e s tio n n a ire s w as th e le t t e r o f e n d o rs e m e n t f r o m the
C C C E A , a le t t e r f u r t h e r e x p la in in g the p u rp o s e o f th e s u r v e y (s e e
A p p e n d ix B ), and a r e t u r n s e lf-a d d r e s s e d s ta m p e d e n v e lo p e . T h e
q u e s tio n n a ire s w e r e coded to in d ic a te th e c o lle g e to w h ic h e a c h
w e r e s e n t an d th e re s p o n d e n ts w e r e a s k e d to id e n t ify th e m s e lv e s
b y n a m e and t it le o r d e p a r tm e n t. T h e q u e s tio n n a ire s w e r e m a ile d
to e a c h o f th e c o lle g e s on J a n u a r y 10, 1 9 7 2 .
O f th e n in e ty -tw o c o lle g e s to w h ic h th e q iie s tio n n a ir e s
w e r e s e n t, s ix t y - f iv e re s p o n d e d to th e in i t i a l m a ilin g . O n
32
F e b r u a r y 10 , 1 9 7 2 , a r e m in d e r p o s tc a rd w as s e n t to th o se c o lle g e s
w h ic h h ad n o t y e t re s p o n d e d . A f in a l to t a l o f e ig h ty -n in e o f the
n in e ty -tw o c o lle g e s re s p o n d e d to the s u rv e y w h ic h c o n s titu te d a
n in e ty -s e v e n p e r c e n t r e t u r n . A lis t o f the p a r tic ip a n ts is in c lu d e d
as A p p e n d ix A .
T h e q u e s tio n n a ire it s e lf c o n s is te d o f fo u r s e c tio n s . T h e
f i r s t w a s a s e r ie s o f th r e e q u e s tio n s s e e k in g to d e te r m in e the
g e n e r a l s ta tu s of s p e c ific e d u c a tio n fo r th e a g e d . T h e seco n d w as
a s e r ie s o f s ix q u e s tio n s s e e k in g to d e te r m in e th e p ro c e d u re s and
p r a c tic e s in s p e c ific a re a s o f th o s e c o lle g e s w h ic h h ad in d ic a te d
in th e f i r s t s e c tio n th a t th e y w e r e in so m e w a y in v o lv e d w ith
c o u rs e s o r p r o g r a m s f o r th e a g e d . T h e t h ir d s e c tio n so ught to
d e te r m in e th e p a s t, c u r r e n t and fu tu re p r o g r a m s and c o u rs e
o ffe r in g s o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s . S e c tio n fo u r w a s a d d re s s e d
to a l l re s p o n d e n ts and s o lic ite d w h a te v e r e x p e r ie n c e s , id e a s ,
s u g g e s tio n s , o b s e r v a tio n s , e tc . , th a t th e y w is h e s to c o n trib u te .
G e n e r a l S ta tu s o f C o m m u n ity C o lle g e E d u c a tio n f o r th e A g e d
A l l o f th e c o lle g e s w e r e a s k e d to re s p o n d to th e f i r s t
th r e e q u e s tio n s on th e q u e s tio n n a ire w h ic h w e r e d e s ig n e d to
d e te r m in e th e g e n e r a l s ta tu s o f s p e c ific e d u c a tio n f o r th e ag ed in
th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s .
C u r r e n t ly t w e n t y - s ix p e r c e n t o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s
a r e o ffe r in g c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s s p e c ific a lly f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s .
A l l o f the n in e ty -tw o c o lle g e s a llo w r e t ir e d p e rs o n s to e n r o ll in
33
r e g u la r c la s s e s , p r o v id e d th e y m e e t th e n o r m a l c la s s e n tra n c e
r e q u ir e m e n t s , i f a n y . S ig n ific a n t to th is p r o je c t w a s th e fa c t th a t
t h ir t y - t w o p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th a t th e y h ad such
c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s in th e p la n n in g s ta g e . F if t e e n o f th e c o lle g e s
n o t n o w o ffe r in g c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s fo r th e ag ed in d ic a te d th a t
th e y h a d su ch c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s in th e p la n n in g s ta g e .
O n ly e ig h t p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle te s in d ic a te d th a t th e y h ad
o ffe r e d c la s s e s s p e c ific a lly f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s and d is c o n tin u e d
th e m f o r one r e a s o n o r a n o th e r.
P r o c e d u r e s and P r a c t ic e s
T h e se co n d s e c tio n o f th e q u e s tio n n a ire in c lu d e d s ix
q u e s tio n s s e e k in g to d e te r m in e th e p ro c e d u re s and p r a c tic e s in
s p e c ific a r e a s o f th o s e c o lle g e s w h ic h h ad in d ic a te d th a t th e y w e r e
in s o m e w a y in v o lv e d w ith c o u rs e s o r p r o g r a m s f o r th e a g e d .
C o lle g e s w ith th e la r g e s t and m o s t s u c c e s s fu l p r o g r a m s w e r e
c a r e f u lly s tu d ie d to d is c o v e r a n y p a r t ic u la r p ro c e d u re s o r
p r a c tic e s w h ic h m a y h ave a id e d th e s u c c e s s r a te in o r d e r th a t
th e s e c o u ld be u s e d b y o th e r c o lle g e s .
T h i r t y - f i v e p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th a t th e y
w e r e in s o m e w a y in v o lv e d in th e o ffe r in g o f c o u rs e s o r p r o g r a m s
to th e a g e d , e it h e r in th e p a s t, p r e s e n t, o r in fu tu r e p la n n in g .
T h is g ro u p o f c o lle g e s a r e th e o n ly ones c o n s id e re d in th is s e c tio n .
W h e n a s k e d i f th e c o lle g e s s p e c ific a lly s e le c t r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s f o r a n y c o lle g e a d v is o r y c o m m itt e e ( s ) , t h ir t y - s e v e n
34
p e r c e n t a n s w e re d a f f ir m a t iv e ly . N o d e s ig n a te d c o m m itte e s w e r e
s u g g e s te d in th is q u e s tio n as i t w as c o n s id e re d d if f ic u lt to d e t e r
m in e in a d v a n c e w h ic h c o m m itte e (s ) m ig h t be in v o lv e d in p r o
m o tin g su ch p r o g r a m s . H o w e v e r , i f th e c o lle g e s a n s w e re d th a t
th e y d id a p p o in t r e t ir e d p e rs o n s s p e c if ic a lly to c o lle g e c o m m itte e s ,
th e y w e r e th e n a s k e d to id e n tify th e c o m m itte e s . T h e c o m m itte e s
s p e c if ic a lly lis te d w e r e as fo llo w s :
C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e s
C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n and C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e s
S e n io r C o o rd in a tin g C o u n c il
C o m m u n ity P la n n in g C o u n c il
C o lle g e A d v is o r y C o m m itte e
S lig h tly le s s th a n f if t y p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s w h ic h h ad
in d ic a te d th a t th e y m a d e su ch a p p o in tm e n ts , h o w e v e r, f a ile d to
in d ic a te th e c o m m itte e to w h ic h th e y w e r e m a d e . I t is p o s s ib le
th a t th e c o m m itte e a p p o in tm e n ts v a r ie d and th e o n ly c o n c e rn w a s
to h a v e a r e t i r e d p e rs o n on so m e a d v is o r y c o m m itte e , b u t th is
can n o t be kn o w n w ith a n y c e r t a in t y .
A n o th e r a r e a c o n s id e re d to be o f c o n s id e ra b le im p o r ta n c e
in th e d e v e lo p m e n t and c o n tin u e d a tte n tio n to p r o g r a m s f o r th e
ag ed w a s th e a p p o in tm e n t o f s p e c ific p e rs o n n e l in th e c o lle g e s
a s s ig n e d to c o o rd in a tio n o r s u p e r v is o r y r e s p o n s ib ility o v e r the
p r o g r a m s . W h e n a s k e d i f th e y had a n y fa c u lty o r a d m in is t r a t iv e
p e r s o n n e l s p e c if ic a lly w o rk in g and p la n n in g in th is a r e a , f i f t y -
s e v e n p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s a n s w e re d a f f ir m a t iv e ly . T h e m o s t
35
c o m m o n d e s ig n a te w a s th e D e a n o f In s t r u c tio n fo llo w e d b y the
D e a n o f E x te n d e d D a y o r C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n and the C o o rd in a to rs
o f C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e s o r C o m m u n ity E d u c a tio n . O th e r t it le s o r
d e p a rtm e n ts d e s ig n a te d w e r e :
A s s o c ia te D e a n o f C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n
A s s is ta n t D e a n o f C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n
P r in c ip a l, A d u lt S c h o o l
D ir e c t o r o f A th le tic s
C o o r d in a to r , S u p e rv is io n
S u p e r v is o r , H o m e E c o n o m ic s
H e a d , C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e C u r r ic u lu m
P s y c h o lo g y D e p a r tm e n t
I f a p e r s o n on th e d e a n 's le v e l o r e q u iv a le n t is th e p e rs o n
r e s p o n s ib le , i t m a y be w o n d e re d i f a d e q u a te tim e and a tte n tio n can
r e a l is t ic a l l y be g iv e n to th is a r e a . R e s p o n s ib le d e s ig n a te s on a
lo w e r le v e l m a y h a v e m o r e tim e a v a ila b le f o r c a r r y in g o u t s tu d ie s ,
c o o rd in a tio n , e tc . O n e c o lle g e d id in d ic a te th a t i t had a to p le v e l
a d m in is t r a t o r an d a fa c u lty m e m b e r w o rk in g in th e a r e a . T h is
ty p e o f c o o rd in a tio n and d e le g a tio n w o u ld s e e m id e a l.
C o n c e rn in g th e c o o p e ra tio n o f th e c o lle g e w ith o th e r
a g e n c ie s in th e o ffe r in g o f c o u rs e s f o r th e a g e d , s ix ty - tw o p e r
c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th a t th e y c o o p e ra te d w ith a t le a s t
one a g e n c y . T w e n ty -e ig h t p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s c o o p e ra te d w ith
m o r e th a n one a g e n c y .
36
C it y o r co u n ty r e c r e a tio n d e p a rtm e n ts and s e n io r
c itiz e n s c lu b s w e r e th e a g e n c ie s c o o p e ra te d w ith m o s t o fte n . A
to t a l o f s e v e n te e n p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s c o o p e ra te d w ith th e s e
a g e n c ie s , r e s p e c tiv e ly . O th e r a g e n c ie s in c lu d e d :
A A R P
A llia n c e on A g in g
C a s a M a n a n a
C h u rc h e s
C i v i l S e r v ic e D e p a r tm e n t
C o u n ty C o m m itte e on A g in g
H ig h S c h o o l D is t r ic t
H e a r t and C a n c e r A s s o c ia tio n
S o c ia l S e r v ic e B u re a u
S ta te C o lle g e s
U n iv e r s it y G e ro n to lo g y C e n te r
W e lf a r e D e p a r tm e n t
Y M C A
S o m e o f th e s e r e fe r e n c e s a ls o a p p a r e n tly a p p lie d to th e
a r e a o f g e ro n to lo g y , th a t is , th e tr a in in g o f p e rs o n s to c a re f o r
th e n ee d s o f th e a g e d . In s o m e c a s e s th is in c lu d e d ag ed p e rs o n s
th e m s e lv e s , so th e r e fe r e n c e s w o u ld s t i l l be v a lid . T h e id e a th a t
r e t ir e d p e rs o n s can be tr a in e d to h e lp o th e r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s is a
g ro w in g id e a c o n c e rn e d w ith th e o p tim u m u se o f h u m a n r e s o u r c e s .
T h e c o lle g e s w e r e a ls o a s k e d to in d ic a te t h e ir m e th o d s
fo r r e a c h in g th e c lie n te le th e y w is h e d to e n r o ll in t h e ir c la s s e s
37
fo r th e a g e d . T h e m o s t p o p u la r m e th o d , u s e d b y s ix t y - e ig h t
p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s , w a s b y m e a n s o f lo c a l n e w s p a p e rs , m a k in g
u se o f b o th le a d s to r ie s and th e p r in tin g o f c la s s s c h e d u le s .
D ir e c t m a ilin g s to re s id e n ts and to r e t ir e m e n t o r g a n iz a
tio n s w e r e u s e d b y f o r t y - e ig h t p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s . R a d io and
te le v is io n c o m m u n ic a tio n w a s u s e d b y so m e t h ir t y - f o u r p e r c e n t.
O th e r m e a n s u s e d in c lu d e d f l i e r s , h a n d o u ts , b ro c h u re s and
d ir e c t c lu b d is t r ib u t io n s . S u c c e s s o f th e s e m e th o d s w as c o n
s id e r e d an im p o r t a n t p a r t o f th e stu d y in th a t i t w o u ld be c r i t i c a l
to r e a c h as m a n y r e t ir e d p e rs o n s as p o s s ib le b y m e a n s o f th e
ab o v e m e th o d s to h e lp in s u r e a d e q u a te e n r o llm e n t. A n a w a re n e s s
q u e s tio n w a s in c lu d e d in th e q u e s tio n n a ire s e n t to th e r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s in th e s tu d y . T h e ir re s p o n s e s w e r e c a r e f u lly c o n s id e re d ,
a r e r e p o r te d on in th e c h a p te r fo llo w in g c o n c e rn in g th e a g e d ,
and a r e a n a ly z e d in C h a p te r V .
A ls o in c lu d e d in th e q u e s tio n n a ire s e n t to th e c o lle g e s
w as a q u e s tio n a s k in g w h e th e r th e c o lle g e s m a d e a n y e f f o r t to
ch an g e th e n o r m a l e n v ir o n m e n ta l (c la s s r o o m ) s itu a tio n to s o m e
th in g m o r e in f o r m a l o r c o m fo r ta b le . F if t y - s e v e n p e rc e n t o f the
c o lle g e s s ta te d th a t th e y d id t r y to ch an g e th e e n v ir o n m e n t. O f
th o s e , tw e n ty -tw o p e r c e n t t r ie d to u se r e c r e a tio n h a lls , c h u rc h e s ,
o r o th e r c o m m u n ity b u ild in g s in lo c a l a r e a s , c lo s e to the s tu d e n ts .
A n o th e r e le v e n p e r c e n t u s e d s m a ll g ro u p d is c u s s io n s to a llo w th e
ag ed to r e la t e t h e ir o w n e x p e rie n c e s and id e a s . O th e r m e th o d s
u s e d w e r e :
38
O p e n d is c u s s io n s
L u n c h e o n m e e tin g s
C o n v e n ie n t p a r k in g
C o m fo r ta b le c h a ir s
In f o r m a l ro o m s
L a r g e fo r u m s
F ie ld t r ip c la s s e s
T h e s e r v in g o f c o ffe e and pu n ch
I
P r o g r a m s and C o u rs e O ffe r in g s !
j
T h e t h ir d s e c tio n o f th e q u e s tio n n a ire lis te d a n u m b e r o f j
c o u rs e s g e a re d to th e n e e d s o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s . C o lle g e s w e r e j
a s k e d to in d ic a te i f th e y o ffe r (e d ) o r w i l l o ffe r a c o u rs e w h ic h
c lo s e ly r e s e m b le d a n y o f th o s e . T h e y w e r e a ls o a s k e d to add a n y
c o u rs e (s ) o ffe r e d w h ic h w e r e n o t in c lu d e d in th e l is t . F o r e a c h
c o u rs e so in d ic a te d , e a c h c o lle g e w a s th e n a s k e d to s ta te w h e n th e
c o u rs e w a s o ffe r e d , e n r o llm e n t , w h e th e r th e c o u rs e w as g ra d e d o r
u n g ra d e d , u n its o ffe r e d , c la s s r o o m s itu a tio n , and i f th e c o u rs e had
b e e n d is c o n tin u e d , th e r e a s o n . B e lo w a r e th e fin d in g s f o r e a c h j
c la s s : j
1. C h a lle n g e o f M a t u r it y : T w o c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th is w as
a c u r r e n t c la s s , one in d ic a te d i t w a s a p a s t o ffe r in g and
one a fu tu r e o ffe r in g . C u r r e n t e n r o llm e n t v a r ie d f r o m
e ig h te e n to t h ir t y . B o th c u r r e n t c la s s e s w e r e u n g ra d e d
and h e ld in a r e g u la r c la s s r o o m . T h e d is c o n tin u e d c la s s
w a s g ra d e d and h e ld in a r e g u la r c la s s r o o m .
39
2 . P la n n in g Y o u r E s t a te : N in e c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th is w as
a c u r r e n t o f fe r in g , tw o as a p a s t o ffe r in g . E n r o llm e n t
v a r ie d f r o m s e v e n te e n to 1 0 0 . A l l c u r r e n t c la s s e s w e re
u n g ra d e d e x c e p t one and a l l b u t one u s e d r e g u la r c la s s
r o o m s . T h e tw o d is c o n tin u e d c la s s e s w e r e u n g ra d e d and
u s e d r e g u la r c la s s r o o m s . O n e c o lle g e in d ic a te d th e
c o u rs e w a s d ro p p e d due to " la c k o f in t e r e s t . "
3 . P r o b le m s o f R e tir e m e n t : S ix c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th is as
a c u r r e n t o ffe r in g and one as a p a s t o ffe r in g . E n r o llm e n t
i
v a r ie d f r o m f ifte e n to 1 5 0 . C u r r e n t c la s s e s w e r e u n g rad ecj
j
a n d , e x c e p t fo r o n e , w e r e h e ld in r e g u la r c la s s r o o m s .
T h e d is c o n tin u e d c la s s w a s u n g ra d e d and h e ld in a r e g u
l a r c la s s r o o m .
4 . H e a lth f o r S e n io r C itiz e n s : T w o c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th is
as a c u r r e n t o ffe r in g , one a p a s t o ffe r in g and one a
fu tu r e o ffe r in g . E n r o llm e n t w a s r e p o r te d f o r one c la s s
and th is w a s 1 7 5 . C la s s e s w e r e u n g ra d e d . C la s s r o o m
s itu a tio n w a s n o t in d ic a te d . R e a s o n f o r d is c o n tin u a n c e
o f th e one c la s s w a s in d ic a te d as la c k o f e n r o llm e n t.
5. L iv in g in L a t e r L if e : O n e c o lle g e in d ic a te d th is as a
c u r r e n t o ffe r in g and one as a fu tu r e o ffe r in g . N o o th e r
in f o r m a t io n w a s g iv e n b y th e c o lle g e s .
6 . L iv in g W ith in Y o u r In c o m e : O n e c o lle g e in d ic a te d th is
as a c u r r e n t c la s s and one as a fu tu r e c la s s . C la s s e s
w e r e lis t e d as u n g ra d e d and h e ld in r e g u la r c la s s r o o m s .
40
7 . P s y c h o lo g ic a l A s p e c ts o f A g in g : F iv e c o lle g e s in d ic a te d
th is a c u r r e n t o ffe r in g , one as a p a s t o ffe r in g and one
as a fu tu r e o ffe r in g . T w o c o lle g e s r e p o r te d t h e ir e n r o l l
m e n t w h ic h w as f o r t y f o r e a c h . T h e c u r r e n t c la s s e s
w e r e u n g ra d e d , th r e e w e r e h e ld in r e g u la r c la s s ro o m s
and tw o w e r e o ffe r e d o ff c a m p u s . T h e d is c o n tin u e d
c la s s w as g ra d e d and h e ld in a r e g u la r c la s s r o o m .
8 . H o w to E n jo y R e t ir e m e n t : O n e c o lle g e lis te d th is as a
fu tu r e o ffe r in g and one as a c u r r e n t o ffe r in g . T h e c u r
r e n t c la s s h ad an e n r o llm e n t o f 135 and w as -u n g rad ed .
N o o th e r in f o r m a tio n w a s lis t e d .
9 . S o c ia l S e c u r ity and O th e r B e n e fits f o r the A g e d : T w o
c o lle g e s lis te d th is as a c u r r e n t o ffe r in g . O n e in d ic a te d
e n r o llm e n t as s e v e n ty -fiv e and th e c la s s w a s u n g ra d e d .
T h e o th e r c o lle g e p ro v id e d no o th e r in fo r m a tio n .
10. T r a in in g f o r C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e : T w o c o lle g e s lis te d
th is as a c u r r e n t o ffe r in g a lth o u g h one c o lle g e lis te d i t
as " F r ie n d ly V is it o r T r a in in g . " A n a v e ra g e e n r o llm e n t
o f f if t y w a s in d ic a te d , c la s s e s w e r e u n g ra d e d . O n e
c la s s w as h e ld in o th e r th a n a r e g u la r c la s s r o o m , no
r o o m in d ic a tio n w a s g iv e n f o r th e s eco n d c o lle g e .
11. P r e p a r in g f o r R e t ir e m e n t : S ix c o lle g e s lis te d th is as a
c u r r e n t o ffe r in g and tw o as a p a s t o ffe r in g . T h r e e
c o lle g e s in d ic a te d e n r o llm e n t w h ic h v a r ie d f r o m t h ir t y
to e ig h t y - f iv e . C la s s e s w e re u n g ra d e d and fiv e w e r e
h e ld in r e g u la r c la s s ro o m s and one o ff c a m p u s . O f th e
tw o c o lle g e s d e s c r ib in g th e c o u rs e as a p a s t o ffe r in g ,
one s ta te d th a t i t w a s d is c o n tin u e d due to tr a n s p o r ta tio n
p r o b le m s and th e o th e r c o lle g e b e c a u s e o f la c k o f
e n r o llm e n t.
12. In c o m e T a x P r e p a r a t io n : T e n c o lle g e s lis t e d th is as a
c u r r e n t o ffe r in g , one as a p a s t o ffe r in g and tw o as a
fu tu r e o ffe r in g . E n r o llm e n ts ra n g e d f r o m fifte e n to
1 5 0 , th e a v e ra g e b e in g f i f t y - s i x . E ig h t o f th e c la s s e s
w e r e u n g ra d e d and tw o w e r e g ra d e d . N in e o f th e c u r r e n t
c la s s e s w e r e h e ld in r e g u la r c la s s r o o m s and one w a s n o t.
13. T h e E l d e r l y as C o n s u m e rs : O n e c o lle g e lis t e d th is as
a c u r r e n t c la s s and tw o lis te d i t as a fu tu r e c la s s . T h e
c u r r e n t c la s s w a s u n g ra d e d and o ffe r e d in a r e g u la r c la s s
r o o m .
S e v e n c o lle g e s lis te d a n u m b e r o f th e a b o ve c la s s e s b e in g
w ith in s o m e f o r m o f s e m in a r fo r s e n io r c it iz e n s . M o s t c o m m o n ly
lis te d w e r e : P la n n in g Y o u r E s t a t e , P r o b le m s o f R e t ir e m e n t ,
H e a lth f o r S e n io r C it iz e n s , L iv in g W ith in Y o u r In c o m e , S o c ia l
S e c u r ity and P r e p a r in g f o r R e t ir e m e n t .
In th e sp ac e le f t open f o r c o lle g e s to l i s t o th e r o ffe rin g s
f o r r e t ir e d p e r s o n s , th e fo llo w in g w e r e in c lu d e d :
O n e c o lle g e in d ic a te d a p r o g r a m le a d in g to a n A s s o c ia te
in A r t s (A . A . ) d e g re e in C o m m u n ity S o c ia l S e r v ic e w ith a
s p e c ia liz a tio n in g e ro n to lo g y (w o rk in g w ith o ld e r a d u lts ). S o m e
42
o f th e c o u rs e s w e r e a ls o d e s ig n e d fo r th e o ld e r a d u lts th e m s e lv e s :
P la n n in g f o r L a t e r Y e a r s ; tw o u n its , tw o h o u rs w e e k ly
S o c ia l G e ro n to lo g y I : A g in g and th e In d iv id u a l; tw o u n its ,
tw o h o u rs w e e k ly
S o c ia l G e ro n to lo g y I I : W o rk in g w ith O ld e r A d u lts ; tw o
u n its , tw o h o u rs w e e k ly
O ld e r a d u lts and P o l i t i c a l P o w e r ; tw o u n its , tw o h o u rs
O n e c o lle g e in d ic a te d a s e r ie s o f fin a n c ia l c o u rs e s f o r o ld e r a d u lts :
In v e s tm e n ts and M o n e y M a n a g e m e n t
M u tu a l F u n d s
S to c k s , B onds - In v e s tm e n t
S to c k s , B o n ds - A p p r a is a l
O n e c o lle g e in d ic a te d s e v e r a l a d d itio n a l s u b je c ts :
C o n s u m e r L a w
C o n v e r s a tio n a l S p a n is h
A r t H is t o r y
A r t H is t o r y (v ia te le v is io n )
O n e c o lle g e in d ic a te d c o u rs e s f o r s e n io r c itiz e n s in c r a fts and
c h o ru s . T h e fo llo w in g s u b je c ts w e r e lis te d b y one c o lle g e e a c h :
B io lo g ic a l and H e a lth R e la te d A s p e c ts o f A g in g
C o n fe re n c e on A g in g (one d a y )
C r e a t iv e L iv in g A f t e r F if t y
E n jo y in g M a t u r it y
E n jo y in g M u s ic
G e ro n to lo g y - T h e S eco n d H a lf o f L if e
G ro w in g O ld e r - A n E x a m in a tio n o f P r o b le m s and
R e s o u rc e s
43
H e a lth B e n e fits
In v e s tm e n t S e m in a r
P e r s p e c t iv e s on A g in g
S e lf-A w a r e n e s s f o r R e t ir e d P e rs o n s (E n c o u n te r G ro u p )
S e n io r C itiz e n s D a y
W o m a n as H e a d o f H o u s e h o ld
O n e c o lle g e in d ic a te d th a t i t had done a l l o f th e fo llo w in g to a s s is t
th e a g in g :
1. E m p lo y e d a fa c u lty m e m b e r to do p r e lim in a r y r e s e a r c h
on g ro w th and fin a n c ia l s ta tu s o f the a g in g w ith in th e lo c a l j
i
c o m m u n ity . :
2 . G a v e le a d e r s h ip and p a r tic ip a te d a t th e D e a n 's le v e l in
fo r m a tio n o f an o rg a n iz a tio n c a lle d th e A llia n c e on A g in g ,
a lo c a l c o m m u n ity c o o rd in a tin g o r g a n iz a tio n .
3. G a v e t e m p o r a r y c a m p u s o ffic e s p a c e to th e A llia n c e on
A g in g .
4 . O f fe r e d th e fo llo w in g p r o g r a m s in c o -s p o n s o rs h ip w ith
th e A llia n c e :
j
G e r ia t r ic s R e c r e a tio n A id e T r a in in g C o u rs e
i
F r ie n d ly V is it o r T r a in in g C o u rs e j
P r e - R e t i r e m e n t S e m in a r
5 . P r e s e n te d a s e r ie s o f f ilm s on c a m p u s on S u n d a y a f t e r
n o o n s to s e n io r c itiz e n s .
6 . H ir e d a p a r t - t im e c o o r d in a to r to w o r k w ith s e n io r c itiz e n
g ro u p s .
7 . T h e D e a n o f C o m m u n ity E d u c a tio n w a s n a m e d to the
S ta te T a s k F o r c e on A g in g and a d e le g a te to th e 1971
W h ite H o u s e C o n fe re n c e on A g in g . (5 7 )
T h e D iv is io n o f A d u lt E d u c a tio n in one la r g e c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e d i s t r i c t p r in te d and d is t r ib u te d a s h o rt b ro c h u re e n title d :
"A P r o g r a m o f A c t iv it ie s D e s ig n e d fo r S e n io r C it iz e n s . " C la s s e s
w e r e o ffe r e d a t f o r t y - n in e d if f e r e n t lo c a tio n s w ith in th e d is t r ic t .
In c lu d e d w e r e s u c h to p ic s as c lo th in g , c r e a tiv e w r it in g , m u s ic ,
c o n v e r s a tio n a l S p a n is h , fo o d s and n u t r it io n , c r a f t s , k n o w y o u r
c o m m u n ity ( f ie ld t r ip s ) , e tc .
C o m m e n ts and R e a c tio n s
T h e la s t s e c tio n o f th e q u e s tio n n a ire e n c o u ra g e d a l l
re s p o n d e n ts to r e la t e a n y e x p e r ie n c e s , id e a s , s u g g e s tio n s ,
o b s e r v a tio n s , e tc . , th a t c o u ld h e lp in th is r e s e a r c h . F o r t y -
e ig h t o f th e c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th a t th e y re c o g n iz e d th e n e e d fo r
c o u rs e s o r m o r e c o u rs e s in th is a r e a . T h is v o lu n ta r y c o m m e n t
c o m in g f r o m so m e f if t y - t w o p e r c e n t o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s
in C a lif o r n ia f u r t h e r in d ic a te s th e in c r e a s in g im p o r ta n c e o f
r e s e a r c h in th is a r e a to a id in th e d e v e lo p m e n t and su c c e s s
o f s u c h p r o g r a m s .
S o m e o f th e t y p ic a l c o m m e n ts a r e in c lu d e d b e lo w :
In a d e q u a te th o u g h t and p la n n in g , in c lu d in g b u d g et
p la n n in g , is g iv e n f o r r e t ir e m e n t age p e rs o n s .
I f e e l th e g r e a te s t n e e d is f o r c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s
to o f f e r s o m e o r a t le a s t a c o u rs e to a c q u a in t th e e ld e r ly
45
w ith a l l th e a v a ila b le s e r v ic e s in th e c o m m u n ity , e s p e c ia lly
f o r s e n io r c itiz e n s .
I lo o k f o r w a r d to y o u r in p u t.
I a m in th e p ro c e s s o f tr y in g to d e v e lo p p r o g r a m s fo r
th e r e t ir e d c o m m u n ity , and w o u ld be m o s t in te r e s te d in
s e e in g th e r e s u lts o f y o u r r e s e a r c h .
W e h a v e no s ta ff tim e to r e s e a r c h th is p r o b le m ; we
w o u ld a p p r e c ia te a n y in p u t th a t m ig h t be a v a ila b le .
W e a r e ju s t m e e tin g w ith o u r S e n io r C it iz e n g ro u p s to
d e v e lo p a p r o g r a m f o r r e t ir e m e n t age s tu d e n ts .
W h e n b u d g e tin g p e r m it s , w e w o u ld be in te r e s te d in
b e t t e r s e r v in g th is s e g m e n t o f o u r p o p u la tio n .
A s f a r as re c o m m e n d a tio n and a d v ic e on ty p e s o f
c la s s e s o r on th e c o n te n t o f c o u r s e s , th e fo llo w in g a r e ty p ic a l
c o m m e n ts :
T h e r e is g r e a t n e e d f o r c o n s u m e r e d u c a tio n - e s p e c ia lly
f o r r e t i r e d p e r s o n s .
I t h e lp s to s c h e d u le a fte rn o o n e v e n ts and a s s is t th e m in
p u b lic iz in g t h e ir p r o g r a m s .
S p e c ia l r e c r e a tio n - t y p e c la s s e s , in c lu d in g p h y s ic a l
f it n e s s , d ie tin g , m e n u p la n n in g and c o n s u m e r e d u c a tio n
c o u r s e s .
T h e y n e e d b u t do n o t w a n t: F o o d s and N u t r it io n ,
C o n s u m e r E c o n o m ic s . T h e y lo v e : f ie ld t r i p c la s s e s on
c iv ic a g e n c ie s and a c t iv it ie s , c h o ru s and c r a f t s . T h e y
ta k e f o r in f o r m a tio n : P r o b le m s o f R e t ir e m e n t , In c o m e
T a x P r e p a r a t io n .
In a d d itio n to th e o b v io u s n e e d s and u s u a l c o u rs e s ,
e f f o r t s to e n c o u ra g e th e s e in d iv id u a ls to k e e p in v o lv e d in
c o m m u n ity a c t iv it ie s a r e n e e d e d . T r a in in g f o r v o lu n te e r
s e r v ic e and le a d e r s h ip h as b e e n one o f o u r p r o m is in g
e f f o r t s .
C la s s e s do b e tte r w h e n o ffe r e d o ff-c a m p u s a t s e n io r
c e n te r s . In f o r m a lit y h e lp s . E l d e r l y s e e k e n te r ta in m e n t
and n e e d c u lt u r a l as w e ll as e d u c a tio n a l o ffe r in g s .
46
J o in t e ffo r ts w ith c ity r e c r e a tio n d e p a rtm e n ts h a v e b e e n
s u c c e s s fu l.
S e n io r c itiz e n s n e e d to be e x e m p t f r o m a n y c o u rs e r e g i s
t r a t io n fe e s .
Y o u r r e s e a r c h c o u ld be o f g r e a t s e r v ic e to th e d e v e lo p
m e n t o f th is ty p e o f p r o g r a m i f yo u w o u ld in d ic a te th e n e e d
o f a d e q u a te an d d e s ig n a te d s ta ff to d e v e lo p th e s e p r o g r a m s .
O th e r r e le v a n t c o m m e n ts :
T w o c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th a t th e s e c o u rs e s w e r e the
r e s p o n s ib ilit y o f th e h ig h s c h o o l. S ix c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th a t
s e n io r c itiz e n s sh o u ld ta k e r e g u la r ly s c h e d u le d c la s s e s in s te a d
o f n e e d in g s e p a r a te o r s p e c ia l c la s s e s .
47
TABLE 1
C U R R E N T S T A T U S O F C O M M U N IT Y C O L L E G E E D U C A T IO N
F O R T H E A G E D
C o lle g e A c t iv it y P e r c e n t o f T o t a l C o lle g e s (8 9 )
C la s s e s c u r r e n t ly b e in g o ffe r e d
f o r th e ag ed 26
C la s s e s c u r r e n t ly b e in g p la n n e d
f o r th e ag ed 32
C la s s e s c u r r e n t ly b e in g o ffe r e d ,
p la n n e d , o r n e e d re c o g n iz e d
f o r su ch o ffe r in g s 75
C la s s e s c u r r e n t ly b e in g o ffe r e d ,
p la n n e d , o r o nce h e ld in the
p a s t 35
48
TABLE 2
P R O C E D U R E S A N D P R A C T IC E S O F C O M M U N IT Y C O L L E G E S
I N O F F E R IN G E D U C A T IO N T O T H E A G E D
P r o c e d u r e s /P r a c t ic e s P e r c e n t o f C o lle g e s (3 1 )
S e le c t r e t ir e d p e rs o n s to s e rv e on
a p p r o p r ia te a d v is o r y c o m
m itte e s 37
A p p o in t fa c u lty o r a d m in is tr a tiv e
p e r s o n n e l to w o r k and p la n in
th is a r e a 57
C o o p e ra te w ith one o r m o r e o th e r
a g e n c ie s in th e o ffe r in g o f
e d u c a tio n to th e aged 62
U s e o f v a r io u s m e a n s o f c o m m u n ic a
tio n and p u b lic ity
N e w s p a p e rs 68
D ir e c t m a i l 48
R a d io and te le v is io n 34
F l i e r s 26
B r o c h u r e s 16
H a n d o u ts 16
C lu b d is tr ib u tio n 8
S e n d in g o f m a t e r i a l d ir e c t ly to
r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s 75
C h a n g in g o f c la s s e n v ir o n m e n t -
R e c o g n itio n o f n e e d 57
CHAPTER IV
T H E A G E D
T h is c h a p te r w i l l p r e s e n t th e in s tr u m e n ts o f the
in v e s tig a tio n and th e p ro c e d u re s u s e d as th e y p e r t a in to th e ag ed
o f C a lif o r n ia an d w i l l in c lu d e th e r e s u lts o f th e in v e s tig a tio n . T h e
c h a p e r is d iv id e d in to s e v e n s e c tio n s : (1) T h e In v e s tig a tio n ;
(2 ) C h a r a c t e r is tic s o f th e A g e d ; (3) A c t iv it ie s o f th e A g e d ;
(4 ) E d u c a tio n a l A w a r e n e s s o f th e A g e d ; (5) E d u c a tio n a l N e e d s and
D e s ir e s o f th e A g e d ; (6) L im it a tio n s and P r o b le m s ; and (7) C o m
m e n ts an d R e a c tio n s .
T h e In v e s tig a tio n
T w o -th o u s a n d a g e d p e rs o n s w e r e q u e r ie d in C a lif o r n ia
to d is c o v e r t h e ir g e n e r a l c h a r a c te r is t ic s and t h e ir e d u c a tio n a l
n e e d s , d e s ir e s and a w a re n e s s .
T h e q u e s tio n n a ire w a s d e v e lo p e d o v e r a f a i r l y lo n g
p e r io d o f tim e d u rin g w h ic h a n u m b e r o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s ,
e d u c a to rs and o th e r in te r e s te d p e rs o n s c o n trib u te d id e a s .
S p e c ific q u e s tio n fo r m a ts w e r e p a tte r n e d a f t e r th e q u e s tio n s u s e d
in th e H e n d r ic k s o n and B a rn e s s tu d y (5 5 :1 4 9 -1 7 0 )
T h e q u e s tio n n a ire w a s th e n s u b m itte d fo r a p p r o v a l to
th e A A R P and th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g th ro u g h th e
49
50
c o o p e ra tio n o f th e In s titu t e 's D e a n , M r . L e r o y E . H ix s o n . T h e
q u e s tio n n a ire r e c e iv e d a p p r o v a l (as d id th e r e s e a r c h p r o je c t it s e lf )
b y th e n a tio n a l o ffic e o f th e A A R P , its C a lif o r n ia s ta te o ffic e and
r e g io n a l r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s , as w e ll as th e o ffic e r s o f th e In s titu te
o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g .
T h e c o m p le te d q u e s tio n n a irs (s e e A p p e n d ix C ) w e r e th e n
s e n t in b u lk to th e P r e s id e n ts o f n in e ty -s e v e n c h a p te rs o f the
A A R P th ro u g h o u t th e s ta te o f C a lif o r n ia . T h e n u m b e r o f q u e s tio n
n a ir e s s e n t to e a c h c h a p te r n u m b e re d a b o u t te n p e r c e n t o f th e
c h a p te r 's t o ta l m e m b e r s h ip . T h e s e le c te d re s p o n d e n ts w e r e to
be r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f th e c h a p te r 's m e m b e r s h ip and th e r e fo r e a
r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s a m p le o f th e m e m b e r s h ip o f th e A A R P in C a l i f
o r n ia , a m e m b e r s h ip w h ic h to ta lle d a p p r o x im a te ly 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 . T h is
r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s a m p le , in tu r n , w as e s tim a te d to be r e p r e s e n t a
tiv e o f a t le a s t f i f t y p e r c e n t o f th e r e t ir e d p o p u la tio n o f C a l i f
o r n ia (s e e A s s u m p tio n s , p ag e 9 ).
A tta c h e d to e a c h q u e s tio n n a ire w a s a le t t e r o f e x p la n a
tio n and e n d o rs e m e n t c o -s ig n e d b y th is r e s e a r c h e r and D e a n
L e r o y E . H ix s o n o f th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g and p r in te d
on th e le tte r h e a d o f th e In s t it u t e , (s e e A p p e n d ix C )
E a c h re s p o n d e n t w a s p ro v id e d w ith a b u s in e s s r e p ly
e n v e lo p e to r e t u r n th e q u e s tio n n a ir e . B e c a u s e o f th e s e n s itiv ity
o f o ld e r p e rs o n s and th e d e g re e o f q u e s tio n in g in v o lv e d , the
re s p o n d e n ts w e r e a s k e d n o t to id e n tify th e m s e lv e s in d iv id u a lly
on th e q u e s tio n n a ir e . E a c h q u e s tio n n a ire h ad p r e v io u s ly b e e n
n u m b e re d w ith a code in d ic a tin g th e c h a p te r to w h ic h i t h ad b e e n s e n t.
51
O f th e 2 0 7 5 q u e s tio n n a ire s s e n t to th e c h a p te rs fo r
d is t r ib u t io n b y th e c h a p te r p r e s id e n ts , 1125 w e r e r e tu r n e d
(5 5 . 5 p e r c e n t).
T h e A A R P is th e la r g e s t r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p in th e s ta te o f
C a lif o r n ia and h as m e m b e r s and c h a p te rs th ro u g h o u t th e s ta te as
w e ll as a n a tio n a l m e m b e r s h ip o f 3, 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 p e rs o n s . T h is p a r
t ic u la r g ro u p w a s s e le c te d as a c o o p e ra tiv e a g e n t in th e r e s e a r c h
b e c a u s e :
1. T h e g ro u p h ad e x te n s iv e s ta te -w id e m e m b e r s h ip .
2 . R e tu r n s f r o m c h a p te r m e m b e r s c o u ld be id e n tifie d w ith
p a r t ic u la r c o lle g e d is t r ic t s w ith o u t th e n e e d to in d iv id u a lly
I
I
id e n tify th e in d iv id u a ls re s p o n d in g .
3 . T h e s e n s it iv ity o f o ld e r p e rs o n s in r e le a s in g p e r s o n a l
in f o r m a t io n w a s re d u c e d b y h a v in g th e q u e s tio n n a ire
d e liv e r e d and e n d o rs e d b y a tr u s te d o r g a n iz a tio n .
4 . T h e A A R P h a d a n e d u c a tio n o r ie n ta tio n and h ad a s u b
s id ia r y In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g w h ic h o ffe r e d
c o u rs e s o f its ow n f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s and w h ic h a ls o h ad
a p r o g r a m o f c o o p e ra tio n w ith s e v e r a l c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s '
in C a lif o r n ia and s e v e r a l o th e r s ta te s . |
I t sh o u ld be n o te d th a t th e q u e s tio n n a ire w a s w r it t e n in
i
c a p it a l le t t e r s and d o u b le o r t r ip le s p a c e d to in c r e a s e its r e a d a b ility
b y o ld e r p e rs o n s .
T h e q u e s tio n n a ire in c lu d e d q u e s tio n s c o v e rin g fiv e a re a s
o f r e le v a n t in f o r m a t io n and one s e c tio n s o lic itin g c o m m e n ts and
52
r e a c tio n s . T h e f i r s t a r e a c o n c e rn e d th e c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f th e
ag ed p e rs o n s re s p o n d in g . T h e s eco n d in v o lv e d th e a c t iv it ie s o f th e
a g e d . T h e t h ir d th e e d u c a tio n a l a w a re n e s s o f th e a g e d , th e fo u rth
th e e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s and d e s ir e s o f th e a g e d , and th e f if t h so ught
in fo r m a tio n on th e lim ita tio n s and p ro b le m s w h ic h co u ld r e s t r i c t
p o s s ib le a tte n d a n c e .
C h a r a c t e r is tic s o f th e A g e d
F o r t y - s i x p e r c e n t o f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s re s p o n d in g to th e
q u e s tio n n a ir e w e r e b e tw e e n age s ix t y - f iv e and age s e v e n ty -o n e .
T h ir t y - t w o p e r c e n t w e r e o v e r s e v e n ty -o n e . T w e n ty p e r c e n t w e r e
b e tw e e n f i f t y - f i v e and s ix t y - f o u r and tw o p e r c e n t w e r e u n d e r age
f i f t y - f i v e .
O f th e m e n re s p o n d in g , f o r t y - f o u r p e r c e n t w e r e o v e r
s e v e n ty -o n e and fo r t y - o n e p e r c e n t w e r e b e tw e e n s ix t y - f iv e and
s e v e n ty -o n e . T h i r t y - s i x p e r c e n t o f th e w o m e n w e r e o v e r s e v e m ty -
one w h ile f o r t y - e ig h t p e r c e n t w e r e b e tw e e n s ix t y - f iv e and s e v e n ty -
o n e . M e n c o n s titu te d t h i r t y - s i x p e r c e n t o f th e s a m p le and w o m e n
s ix t y - f o u r p e r c e n t.
T h e ab o v e s ta tis tic s in d ic a te th a t m o r e w o m e n th a n m e n
a r e a c tiv e in le is u r e - t i m e a c tiv itie s o u ts id e the h o m e . M e n te n d
to b e c o m e m o r e a c tiv e in su ch a c tiv itie s as th e y in c r e a s e in y e a r s
b ey o n d age s ix t y - f iv e . T h e a b s o lu te n u m b e r o f m e n a n s w e rin g th e
s u r v e y in c r e a s e d in th is m a n n e r .
W h ile n in e ty -tw o p e r c e n t o f th o s e re s p o n d in g w e r e
r e t ir e d , t w e n ty -e ig h t p e r c e n t s t i l l w o rk e d p a r t o r f u ll t im e . O n ly
53
th r e e p e r c e n t s t i l l w o rk e d f u ll t im e . O f th o s e w ho w e r e n o t
r e t i r e d , m o s t w e r e s p o u s e s o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s .
T h e e d u c a tio n a l le v e l o f the re s p o n d e n ts w a s h ig h , t h ir t y -
fo u r p e r c e n t h a v in g c o m p le te d a t le a s t one y e a r o f c o lle g e , s e v e n ty -
th r e e p e r c e n t c o m p le te d h ig h s c h o o l. E ig h te e n p e r c e n t h ad c o m
p le te d c o lle g e an d s lig h tly le s s th a n n in e p e r c e n t h a d ta k e n so m e
g ra d u a te w o r k . T h is le f t o n ly tw e n ty -s e v e n p e r c e n t h a v in g n o t
c o m p le te d a tw e lfth g ra d e e d u c a tio n . O f th e s e , a t le a s t e ig h t y -fiv e
p e r c e n t s a id th e y h ad c o m p le te d a t le a s t a n e ig h th g ra d e e d u c a tio n .
I
O f th e ag e d re s p o n d in g , e le v e n p e r c e n t h a d in c o m e s o f j
j
le s s th a n $ 1 5 0 p e r m o n th , w h ile tw e n ty -tw o p e r c e n t r e c e iv e d j
b e tw e e n $ 1 5 1 and $ 2 5 0 and n in e te e n p e r c e n t r e c e iv e d b e tw e e n $ 2 5 1
and $ 2 7 5 . T w e n ty -o n e p e r c e n t h ad an in c o m e b e tw e e n $ 3 7 6 and
$ 5 0 0 and tw e n ty -s e v e n p e r c e n t r e c e iv e d o v e r $ 5 0 0 p e r m o n th .
A lm o s t h a lf o f th e a g e d , t h e r e f o r e , h ad in c o m e s o f $ 4 2 0 0 o r m o r e
p e r y e a r .
T h e U n ite d S ta te s C e n s u s B u re a u b ro k e d o w n age g ro u p in g s
a l i t t l e d if f e r e n t ly . W h ile th is s tu d y sh o w ed f o r t y - s i x p e r c e n t j
o f th e ag e d b e tw e e n s ix t y - f iv e and s e v e n ty -o n e , tw e n ty p e r c e n t
b e tw e e n f i f t y - f i v e and s ix t y - f iv e , and t h ir t y - t w o p e r c e n t o v e r age j
s e v e n ty -o n e , th e c e n su s in d ic a te d s ix t y -tw o p e r c e n t b e tw e e n s ix t y -
fiv e and s e v e n ty -fiv e and t h ir t y - e ig h t p e r c e n t s e v e n ty -fiv e o r o v e r
b u t d id n o t in c lu d e th e f if t y - f iv e to s ix t y - f iv e age g ro u p . T h is
s tu d y a ls o h ad w o m e n c o n s titu tin g s ix t y - f o u r p e r c e n t o f th e s a m p le
an d m e n t h i r t y - s i x p e r c e n t. T h e c e n s u s in d ic a te s th a t in C a lif o r n ia j
54
w o m e n in th is ag e g ro u p c o n s titu te s ix ty p e r c e n t and m e n f o r t y
p e r c e n t o f th e t o t a l. T h e s a m p le in th is s tu d y th e r e fo r e is s lig h tly
b ia s e d in fa v o r o f th e m a le , b u t n o t b y v e r y m u c h . A s n o te d a b o v e ,
m e n te n d to b e c o m e m o r e a c tiv e in v a rio u s r e t ir e m e n t a c tiv it ie s
as th e y in c r e a s e in y e a r s b eyo n d age s ix t y - f iv e .
A c t iv it ie s o f th e A g e d
S e v e n ty -e ig h t p e r c e n t o f th e re s p o n d e n ts in d ic a te d th a t
th e y p a r t ic ip a t e d on a r e g u la r b a s is in le is u r e tim e a c tiv itie s
o u ts id e th e h o m e . S e v e n ty -fo u r p e r c e n t s a id th e y le f t t h e ir h o m e s
fo r th e s e a c t iv it ie s a t le a s t once a w e e k and s ix t y - f o u r p e r c e n t
re s p o n d e d th a t th e y w e n t o u t m o r e th a n once a w e e k .
C o n s id e r in g th e u s u a l d if fic u ltie s c ite d b y e x p e rts w h ic h
e ld e r ly p e rs o n s h a v e w ith tr a n s p o r ta tio n , e tc . , th is is a r a t h e r
s ig n ific a n t d e g re e o f a c t iv it y , a lth o u g h i t m u s t be n o te d th a t th is
p r o je c t w a s in t e r e s t e d in c o n ta c tin g ju s t su ch r e t ir e d p e rs o n s . A s
s ta te d in th e A s s u m p tio n s (p ag e 9) " T h e m e m b e r s h ip o f th e A A R P
is r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f th e in te r e s te d and a c tiv e r e t ir e d o r ag ed
p e rs o n s w h o w o u ld m o s t lik e ly ta k e p a r t , a t le a s t a t th e b e g in n in g ,
in c la s s e s an d p r o g r a m s a t th e C a lif o r n ia c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s . "
In a d d itio n , f if t y - t w o p e r c e n t o f th e ag ed s ta te d th a t th e y
a lr e a d y a r e e n g a g e d in s o m e f o r m o f e d u c a tio n a l o r c u lt u r a l
a c t iv it y o u ts id e th e h o m e . F o r t y - t h r e e p e r c e n t re s p o n d e d th a t th e y
h ad a tte n d e d an e d u c a tio n a l c la s s w ith in th e la s t te n y e a r s . O v e r
f i f t y p e r c e n t s a id th a t th e y a tte n d e d c o n c e rts o r a t ‘le a s t k n e w o f
55
c o n c e rts a v a ila b le in t h e ir c o m m u n itie s . S im ila r ly , f if t y - n in e
p e r c e n t k n e w o f o r a tte n d e d c u lt u r a l and t r a v e l p r o g r a m s .
A d u lt h ig h s c h o o ls w e r e th e m o s t c o m m o n a g e n c y o f
a tte n d a n c e fo llo w e d b y c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e s , th e In s titu te
o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g , and th e U n iv e r s it y o r S ta te C o lle g e s in th a t
o r d e r .
E d u c a tio n a l A w a re n e s s o f th e A g e d
C e r t a in ly th e m a jo r it y o f re s p o n d e n ts w e r e n o t u n f a m ilia r
w ith e d u c a tio n a l o ffe r in g s . S ix ty -o n e p e r c e n t in d ic a te d th e y k n e w
o f a d u lt e d u c a tio n c la s s e s in t h e ir c o m m u n ity , s ix ty p e r c e n t k n e w
o f c u lt u r a l and t r a v e l p r o g r a m s , f if t y - e ig h t p e r c e n t k n e w o f c o m - ;
m u n it y /ju n io r c o lle g e c la s s e s , and f if t y p e r c e n t k n e w o f p a r k and
r e c r e a t io n d i s t r i c t c la s s e s . F o r t y - f o u r p e r c e n t c la im e d to kn o w
o f c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s e s p e c ia lly f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s w ith in t h e ir
c o m m u n itie s .
S e v e n ty -th r e e p e r c e n t o f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s re s p o n d e d
th a t th e y h ad r e c e n t ly r e c e iv e d o r h a d r e c e n tly s e e n a lis tin g o f
h ig h s c h o o l o r c o lle g e c la s s e s in t h e ir c o m m u n ity . j
T h e a w a re n e s s o f the ag ed o f e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s '
i
a ro u n d th e m w as h ig h e s t in th e s m a lle r c o m m u n itie s o f th e s ta te . J
T h e n u m b e r w h o h a d s een a lis tin g o f c la s s e s d ro p p e d s ig n ific a n tly
in th e la r g e u rb a n a r e a s lik e L o s /A n g eles and O a k la n d -S a n
F r a n c is c o . T h e g r e a t e s t a w a re n e s s o f o ffe r in g s w a s in th e m e d iu m
s iz e c itie s o f th e s ta te , p a r t ic u la r ly in u rb a n a r e a s h a v in g p o p u la
tio n s o f f r o m s e v e n ty -fiv e to 2 5 0 th o u s a n d . T h e h e a v y r e lia n c e o f J
56
th e c o lle g e s u pon n e w s p a p e rs f o r th e p u b lic iz in g o f t h e ir o ffe rin g s
m a y a c c o u n t, a t le a s t in p a r t , f o r th is p a tte r n o f a w a re n e s s .
E d u c a tio n a l N e e d s and D e s ir e s o f th e A g e d
G iv e n a c h o ic e o f e x p re s s in g t h e ir p r e fe r e n c e f o r ta k in g
c la s s e s a t an a d u lt s c h o o l, a c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e , o r t h e ir
ow n In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g and a s k e d to in d ic a te t h e ir
f i r s t , se co n d an d t h ir d c h o ic e s , th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g
r e c e iv e d f if t y - f o u r p e r c e n t o f th e f i r s t p la c e v o te s . T h e a d u lt
s c h o o ls r e c e iv e d tw e n ty -s e v e n p e r c e n t and th e c o m m u n ity /ju n io r j
I
I
c o lle g e r e c e iv e d n in e te e n p e r c e n t o f th e f i r s t p la c e v o te s . H o w - |
e v e r , th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g do es n o t n o w o ffe r c la s s e s j
a t m o s t lo c a tio n s and a c o m m o n c o m p la in t w a s th a t its fe e s w e re
to o h ig h . T h e In s titu te u s u a lly c h a rg e s f r o m s e v e n to tw e n ty -f iv e
d o lla r s f o r a c o u r s e . T h is d o es n o t in c lu d e a n o m in a l fe e f o r
m e m b e r s h ip d u es in th e A A R P .
T h e c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e r e c e iv e d th e la r g e s t
n u m b e r o f s e c o n d p la c e v o te s ( t h ir t y - s e v e n p e rc e n t) fo llo w e d b y
th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g ( t h ir t y - f iv e p e r c e n t) and the :
a d u lt s c h o o ls (tw e n ty -e ig h t p e r c e n t). T h e c o m m u n ity /ju n io r j
c o lle g e s and th e a d u lt s c h o o ls w e r e tie d in t h ir d p la c e v o te s w ith
fo r t y - o n e p e r c e n t e a c h and th e In s titu te r e c e iv e d e ig h te e n p e r c e n t.
T o ta lin g th e f i r s t , seco n d and t h ir d p la c e v o te s to g e th e r
g a v e th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g f o r t y p e r c e n t and the
c o m m u n it y /ju n io r c o lle g e s and th e a d u lt s c h o o ls tie d w ith t h ir t y
I
p e r c e n t e a c h . j
57
A s id e f r o m th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g b e in g f i r s t
(an d th is m a y w e ll h a v e b e e n due to th e a f f ilia t io n o f th e In s titu te
w ith th e A A R P ) th e c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e s and th e a d u lt
s c h o o ls s e e m e d to c o m e o u t a b o u t e v e n as c h o ic e s fo r th e ag ed
as p la c e s to ta k e c la s s e s .
W h e n a s k e d , in a s e p a ra te q u e s tio n , i f th e y w o u ld be
l ik e l y to a tte n d c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e c la s s e s in t h e ir c o m
m u n ity i f th e r e w e r e c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s g e a re d to t h e ir p a r
t ic u la r n e e d s , t h i r t y - s i x p e r c e n t o f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s a n s w e re d
i
a f f ir m a t iv e ly . A la r g e r p e rc e n ta g e in d ic a te d th e y w o u ld a tte n d j
|
i f c o n d itio n s w e r e d if f e r e n t . T h e s e c o n d itio n s w i l l be d is c u s s e d j
in th e n e x t s e c tio n o f th is c h a p te r.
T h e re s p o n d e n ts w e r e o v e rw h e lm in g in t h e ir re s p o n s e
c o n c e rn in g th e q u e s tio n o f ta k in g c la s s e s fo r c r e d it o r no c r e d it .
N in e ty -tw o p e r c e n t s ta te d th a t th e y w a n te d to ta k e c la s s e s f o r no
c r e d it .
C o n c e rn in g s p e c ific c la s s e s , the q u e s tio n n a ire lis te d a
n u m b e r o f c o u rs e t it le s w h ic h w e r e c o n s id e re d to be o f p o s s ib le
in t e r e s t to a g e d p e rs o n s and th e re s p o n d e n ts w e r e a s k e d to
i
in d ic a te i f th e y w o u ld be in te r e s te d in su ch a c la s s and a ls o i f th e y j
w o u ld a c tu a lly e n r o ll in such a c la s s . T h e fifte e n m o s t p o p u la r
c la s s e s in w h ic h a la r g e n u m b e r w e r e b o th in te r e s te d and in d ic a te d
th e y w o u ld e n r o ll a r e as fo llo w s :
H e a lth f o r S e n io r C itiz e n s
S o c ia l S e c u r ity and O th e r B e n e fits f o r th e A g e d
58
H o w to E n jo y R e t ir e m e n t
C o n v e r s a tio n a l S p a n is h
T h e L a w and Y o u
F in a n c in g th e L a t e r Y e a r s
A r t s and C r a fts
L iv in g W ith in Y o u r In c o m e
In c o m e T a x P r e p a r a t io n
L iv in g in L a t e r L if e
P s y c h o lo g ic a l A s p e c ts o f A g in g
I
T r a in in g f o r C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e !
!
C o n s u m e r C o n c e rn s |
P la n n in g Y o u r E s ta te
R a p id R e a d in g
T h e tim e o f d a y o f c la s s o ffe r in g s a ls o w a s im p o r ta n t to
th e r e t i r e d p e r s o n s . M o s t su ch c la s s e s a r e c u r r e n t ly h e ld d u rin g
e v e n in g h o u r s , b u t th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s in d ic a te d s tr o n g ly a p r e f e r
e n c e f o r d a y c la s s e s . T h e m o s t p o p u la r t im e o f d a y w a s in d ic a te d j
!
to be th e a fte rn o o n b y f o r t y - t w o p e r c e n t o f th e a g e d . T h i r t y - s i x j
p e r c e n t fa v o r e d m o r n in g c la s s e s and o n ly tw e n ty -o n e p e r c e n t
i
fa v o r e d n ig h t c la s s e s . T h e la c k o f d a y tim e c la s s e s w a s o fte n j
s ta te d b y th e ag ed as a d e te r e n t to a tte n d a n c e .
O f th o s e w illin g to a tte n d e v e n in g c la s s e s , s ix t y - f o u r
p e r c e n t fa v o r e d th e h o u rs 7 :0 0 to 8 :3 0 , t h ir t y p e r c e n t fa v o r e d th e
h o u rs 5 :3 0 to 7 :0 0 an d o n ly s ix p e r c e n t fa v o r e d th e h o u rs 8 :3 0 to
1 0 :0 0 . F i f t y - s i x p e r c e n t s a id th e y w o u ld n o t a tte n d c la s s e s a f t e r j
8 :3 0 p . m . j
59
T h e p r e f e r r e d d a y o f the w e e k f o r c la s s e s w as M o n d a y ,
fo llo w e d b y T u e s d a y , W e d n e s d a y , T h u r s d a y , F r id a y and S a tu rd a y
in th a t o r d e r . M o n d a y and T u e s d a y a p p e a re d to be e x c e lle n t p o s
s ib ilit ie s w ith th e p r e fe r e n c e d ro p p in g r a t h e r r a p id ly a f t e r th a t.
W e d n e s d a y and T h u r s d a y w o u ld be p o s s ib le b u t F r id a y and S a tu rd a y
a p p e a re d to be bad c h o ic e s .
O p p o s itio n to th e id e a o f c o n c e n tra te d c la s s e s m e e tin g
tw o o r th r e e d a ys a t a tim e w a s v o ic e d b y s ix ty -n in e p e r c e n t o f
th e re s p o n d e n ts . A n u m b e r in d ic a te d i t w a s too d if f ic u lt to s it fo r
th a t le n g th o f tim e an d c o n c e n tra te on one s u b je c t. T h is m ig h t
a ls o in d ic a te s o m e p r o b le m s w ith a l l d a y c o n fe re n c e s su ch as
S e n io r C it iz e n D a y . In a d d itio n to th e s ittin g p r o b le m , p la in
e x h a u s tio n f o r o ld e r p e rs o n s w o u ld a p p e a r to be a p r o b le m w ith
a ll- d a y a c t iv it ie s .
A q u e s tio n w a s a s k e d o f th e ag ed as to w h e th e r o r n o t
th e y w o u ld h a v e a n y h e s ita n c y a b o u t e n r o llin g in a c la s s a t a
c o m m u n it y /ju n io r c o lle g e . I t w a s h o p ed to d e te r m in e i f th e ag ed
m ig h t b e lie v e th a t th e y w e r e n o t q u a lifie d to a tte n d c o lle g e . H o w
e v e r , e ig h ty p e r c e n t o f th o s e re s p o n d in g s a id th e y w o u ld h a v e no
su ch h e s ita n c y . T h e e d u c a tio n a l a c t iv it ie s p r e v io u s ly in d ic a te d as
t y p ic a l f o r th is g ro u p w o u ld b e a r o u t th e a n s w e r to th is q u e s tio n .
G iv e n a c h a n c e to d e s c r ib e t h e ir h e s ita n c y , th e r e m a in in g tw e n ty
p e r c e n t in d ic a te d v a r io u s re a s o n s m a in ly in th e a r e a o f n o t b e in g
in te r e s te d in su ch a c t iv it ie s o r b e lie v in g th a t th e y w e r e to o o ld .
O n ly a fe w in d ic a te d th a t th e y f e l t th e y w e r e n o t e d u c a tio n a lly
60
q u a lifie d to e n te r a c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e and th e s e , f o r th e
m o s t p a r t , h a d c o n s id e r a b ly le s s th a n a h ig h s c h o o l e d u c a tio n .
L im ita tio n s and P r o b le m s
W h e n d e a lin g w ith a g e d p e rs o n s th e r e a r e m a n y lim ita t io n s
and p r o b le m s th a t a r e n e c e s s a r ily p r e s e n t, p ro b a b ly to a g r e a t e r
d e g r e e , th a n w h e n d e a lin g w ith y o u n g e r age g ro u p s . T h is s tu d y w a s
p a r t ic u la r ly in te r e s te d in d is c o v e r in g th o s e lim it a tio n s and p r o b
le m s so th a t th e r e a l e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s open to r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s w o u ld be t r u ly a v a ila b le and c o n v e n ie n t and n o t ju s t o f f e r
in g s on p a p e r th a t m a y o r m a y n o t sta n d m u c h o f a c h a n c e o f
s u c c e s s .
T h e r e v ie w o f th e l it e r a t u r e in d ic a te d a n u m b e r o f a r e a s
o f p r o b le m s a s s o c ia te d w ith o ffe r in g c o u rs e s o r p r o g r a m s f o r th e
a g e d . T h e q u e s tio n n a ire s e n t to th e ag ed as p a r t o f th is stu d y
so u g h t to v e r if y o r r e fu te th o s e fin d in g s as th e y p a r t ic u la r ly a p p ly
to th e r e t i r e d p e o p le o f th e s ta te o f C a lif o r n ia . T r a n s p o r ta tio n
and th e tim e o f o ffe rin g s h a v e b e e n n o te d as m a jo r p r o b le m s .
I t w a s n o te d ab o ve th a t a n u m b e r o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s
in d ic a te d a s tro n g in t e r e s t in a tte n d in g c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e s .
A la r g e r p e rc e n ta g e in d ic a te d th e y w o u ld a tte n d i f c o n d itio n s w e r e
d if f e r e n t . T h e m o s t c o m m o n c o n d itio n s th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s
w a n te d ch a n g e d w e r e fo r c la s s e s to be h e ld d u rin g th e d a y and f o r
c la s s e s to be h e ld c lo s e r to t h e ir h o m e s o r in p la c e s w h e re
tr a n s p o r ta tio n w as a d e q u a te .
61
A ls o s p e c if ic a lly id e n tifie d b y th e r e t ir e d as n e e d s in
th is a r e a w e r e c la s s e s lo c a te d c lo s e to p a r k in g lo ts , w e ll lig h te d
w a lk in g a r e a s , e a s y e n tra n c e to b u ild in g s and c la s s r o o m s .
E s p e c ia lly b o th e rs o m e to m a n y ag ed p e rs o n s w e r e s ta ir w a y s and
u n c o m fo rta b le c h a ir s and d e s k s .
T h e a g e d w e r e a ls o c r i t i c a l o f m a n y c la s s e s in s o fa r as
th e s o c ia l e n v ir o n m e n t w a s c o n c e rn e d . T h e y w a n te d m o r e in f o r m a l
s itu a tio n s w h e r e th e y c o u ld d is c u s s is s u e s and c o n trib u te to th e
le a r n in g s itu a tio n b y e x p re s s in g id e a s b a s e d on t h e ir m a n y y e a rs j
o f e x p e r ie n c e . T h e y w e r e p a r t ic u la r ly b o th e re d b y h a v in g young j
I
I
te a c h e r s t e l l th e m w h a t i t w a s lik e to be o ld . ;
O n e o f th e o th e r p r o b le m a r e a s th a t e d u c a to rs in te r e s te d
in o ffe r in g c o u rs e s o r p r o g r a m s f o r th e r e t ir e d m u s t be a w a re o f,
is th e tim e f a c t o r in th e liv e s o f the r e t ir e d . M o s t r e t ir e d p e rs o n s
f e lt th a t t h e ir liv e s w e r e a lr e a d y v e r y f u ll and th a t th e y w e r e as
a c t iv e ly e n g a g e d in v a r io u s a c t iv it ie s as th e y c o u ld b e . R e t ir e d
p e r s o n s , f o r th e m o s t p a r t , a r e n o t s ittin g a t h o m e lo o k in g fo r
s o m e th in g to d o . T h e y a r e a lr e a d y a c tiv e . H o w e v e r , th e y s t ill
f e e l a n e e d f o r so m e ty p e s o f e d u c a tio n a l a c t iv it y , e s p e c ia lly
i
e d u c a tio n a l o ffe r in g s a im e d d ir e c t ly a t t h e ir n e e d s . E d u c a to r s ]
m u s t be a w a r e o f th e n e e d to c a u s e th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n to ch an g e
h is c u r r e n t a c t iv it y p a tte r n and in s titu te a n e w p a tte r n to in c lu d e
th e c o u rs e s th a t o ffe r e d fo r t h e ir b e n e fit. T h e c h a n g in g o f d a ily
p a tte r n s is n o t p a r t ic u la r ly e a s y fo r p e rs o n s o f a n y a g e , and i t is
m o r e d if f ic u lt f o r o ld e r p e rs o n s . T h e r e f o r e , th e in fo r m a t io n
62
r e le a s e d b y th e c o lle g e s d e s c r ib in g th e c o u rs e o ffe r in g s and
w h a te v e r o th e r p u b lic r e la tio n s te c h n iq u e s a r e u s e d m u s t be a im e d
a t c a u s in g th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n to b r e a k h is c u r r e n t p a tte r n s . A
n u m b e r o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s s a id th e y w o u ld a tte n d su ch c la s s e s i f
th e y w e r e in t e r e s t in g an d r e le v a n t to th e m . T h e in te r e s tin g and
r e le v a n t a s p e c ts o f th e c o u rs e s m u s t be in c lu d e d in th e p re s s
in fo r m a t io n r e le a s e d b y th e c o lle g e s , i f a s ig n ific a n t n u m b e r o f
r e t ir e d p e rs o n s a r e to ch an g e t h e ir d a ily p a tte rn s enough to
e n r o ll in th e c la s s e s .
C o m m e n ts and R e a c tio n s
T h e f in a l s e c tio n o f th e q u e s tio n n a ire a s k e d th e r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s to m a k e a n y s u g g e s tio n s w h ic h w o u ld h e lp the c o m m u n ity /
ju n io r c o lle g e to s e r v e t h e ir n e e d s b e t t e r .
T h e r e t i r e d re s p o n d e d th a t th e y w o u ld lik e to see m o r e
c o o p e r a tio n b e tw e e n th e c o m m u n it y /ju n io r c o lle g e s and th e In s titu te
o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g . T h is w a s p a r t ic u la r ly r e le v a n t as th e le a d e r
s h ip o f th e In s titu te a ls o fa v o r e d g r e a t e r c o o p e ra tio n . T h e e x p e r
ie n c e o f th e In s titu te in th is a r e a c o u ld p o s s ib ly be o f c o n s id e ra b le
a s s is ta n c e to th e c o lle g e s .
O th e r c o m m e n ts o f th e r e t ir e d re s p e c tin g c o m m u n ity /
ju n io r c o lle g e s w e r e g e n e r a lly as fo llo w s and in th is o r d e r :
1. H a v e h a d fa v o r a b le e x p e rie n c e s w ith c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s
a n d /o r h a v e h a d fa v o r a b le o p in io n s o f th e c o lle g e s and
b e lie v e th e y a r e a lr e a d y d o in g a good jo b to s e r v e the
n e e d s o f t h e ir c o m m u n itie s .
63
T h e r e is n e e d f o r b e tte r tr a n s p o r ta tio n o r b e tte r
lo c a tio n c la s s e s .
T h e r e is n e e d f o r b e tte r te a c h in g ; b e t te r q u a lifie d
e v e n in g fa c u ltie s ; b e tte r p r e p a r e d te a c h e r s f o r r e t ir e m e n t
c la s s e s .
T h e fe e s o f the In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g a r e to o
h ig h .
T h e c o lle g e s co u ld a t t r a c t m o r e s tu d e n ts th ro u g h b e tte r
p u b lic ity .
M a n y c o lle g e s a r e d a n g e ro u s a t n ig h t.
64
T A B L E 3
A G E A N D S E X C H A R A C T E R IS T IC S O F T H E
A G E D P O P U L A T IO N IN S A M P L E
A g e
T o t a l
(P e r c e n t)
M e n
(P e r c e n t)
W o m e n
(P e r c e n t)
U n d e r 55 2 3
5 5 -6 4 20 15 13
6 5 -7 1 46 41 48
65
TABLE 4
RETIREM ENT AND EM PLOYM ENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
AGED PO PULATIO N IN SAM PLE
T o t a l
W o rk in g
P a r t T im e
W o rk in g
F u l l T im e
R e t ir e m e n t S ta tu s (P e r c e n t) (P e r c e n t) (P e r c e n t)
R e t ir e d 92 28 3
N o t r e t ir e d 8 12 6
66
TABLE 5
EDUCATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
AGED PO PULATIO N IN SAM PLE
G ra d e C o m p le te d P e r c e n t o f T o ta l
1 - 7 4
8 - 1 1 24
12 30
13 - 16 33
G ra d u a te s c h o o l 9
8 th o r h ig h e r 96
12th o r h ig h e r 73
G ra d u a te d f r o m c o lle g e 18
TABLE 6
INCOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
AGED PO PULATIO N IN SAM PLE
In c o m e P e r M o n th P e r c e n t o f T o t a l
L e s s th a n $ 15 0 11
B e tw e e n $ 1 5 1 an d $ 2 5 0 22
B e tw e e n $ 2 5 1 an d $ 3 7 5 19
B e tw e e n $ 3 7 6 and $ 5 0 0 21
O v e r $ 5 0 0 27
68
TABLE 7
P A R T I C I P A T I O N I N O U T S ID E A C T IV IT IE S A N D E N G A G E M E N T I N
E D U C A T IO N A L O R C U L T U R A L A C T IV IT IE S
O N P A R T O F A G E D S A M P L E
A c t iv it y P e r c e n t o f T o t a l
P a r t ic ip a t io n in s o m e o u ts id e a c t iv it y 78
P a r t ic ip a t e in o u ts id e a c t iv it ie s a t le a s t
o n ce a w e e k 74
P a r t ic ip a t e in o u ts id e a c t iv it ie s m o r e
th a n o nce a w e e k 64
E n g a g e in e d u c a tio n a l o r c u ltu r a l a c tiv itie s 52
A tte n d e d an e d u c a tio n a l c la s s w ith in th e
la s t te n y e a r s 43
A tte n d e d a d u lt h ig h s c h o o l c la s s
19
A tte n d e d c o m m u n ity c o lle g e c la s s 14
A tte n d e d In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g C la s s 7
A tte n d e d s ta te c o lle g e o r u n iv e r s it y c la s s 3
69
TABLE 8
A W A R E N E S S O F E D U C A T IO N A L S U R R O U N D IN G S
O N P A R T O F A G E D S A M P L E
A c t iv it y P e r c e n t A w a r e o f A c t iv it y
A d u lt e d u c a tio n c la s s e s w ith in 61
lo c a l c o m m u n ity
C u lt u r a l and t r a v e l p r o g r a m s w ith in
lo c a l c o m m u n ity 60
C o m m u n ity c o lle g e c la s s e s w ith in
lo c a l c o m m u n ity 58
P a r k and r e c r e a t io n d is t r ic t c la s s e s
w ith in lo c a l c o m m u n ity 50
C la s s e s and p r o g r a m s e s p e c ia lly f o r
r e t i r e d p e rs o n s 4 4
R e c e iv e d o r s e e n a lis tin g o f h ig h
s c h o o l o r c o lle g e c la s s e s w ith in
lo c a l c o m m u n ity w ith in th e la s t
y e a r 73
70
TABLE 9
E D U C A T IO N A L N E E D S A N D D E S IR E S
I N D IC A T E D B Y A G E D S A M P L E
N e e d s o r D e s ir e s P e r c e n t R e s p o n d in g
W o u ld a tte n d c o lle g e c la s s e s i f g e a re d
to ag ed in te r e s ts and n e e d s 36
W is h to ta k e c o lle g e c la s s e s f o r c r e d it 8
W is h to ta k e c o lle g e c la s s e s f o r no c r e d it 92
W is h to ta k e c la s s e s d u rin g :
M o r n in g 36
A fte r n o o n 42
E v e n in g 21
F o r e v e n in g c la s s e s , p r e f e r th e h o u rs of:
5 : 3 0 -7 :0 0 30
7 :0 0 - 8 : 3 0 64
8 : 3 0 - 1 0 : 0 0 6
W o u ld n o t ta k e c la s s e s a f t e r 8 :3 0 p . m . 56
P r e f e r th e fo llo w in g d ays f o r h o ld in g
o f c la s s e s :
M o n d a y 25
T u e s d a y 23
W e d n e s d a y 19
T h u r s d a y 18
F r id a y 13
S a tu r d a y 2
F a v o r c o n c e n tra te d c la s s e s 2 - 3 d a y s 31
O p p o s e c o n c e n tra te d c la s s e s 69
71
TABLE 10
C H O IC E S O F E D U C A T IO N A L A G E N C IE S
O N P A R T O F A G E D S A M P L E
1 s t C h o ic e 2nd C h o ic e 3 rd C h o ic e
A g e n c y (P e r c e n t) (P e r c e n t) (P e r c e n t)
A d u lt h ig h s c h o o l 27 28 41
C o m m u n ity c o lle g e 19 37 41
In s titu te o f L if e t im e
L e a r n in g 54 35 18
CHAPTER V
A N A L Y S IS O F T H E F IN D IN G S
T h e tw o p r e v io u s c h a p te rs p re s e n te d th e r e s u lts o f th e
in v e s tig a tio n s in to th e c u r r e n t r o le o f th e c o lle g e s in th e e d u c a tio n
o f th e a g e d and th e c u r r e n t e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s , d e s ir e s , and
a w a re n e s s o f th e a g e d as s e e n b y th e m s e lv e s . T h is c h a p te r w i l l
p r e s e n t a n a n a ly s is o f th e fin d in g s . T h e m a t e r i a l w i l l be b ro k e n
d o w n in to tw o m a jo r h e a d in g s : (1) C u r r e n t R o le o f th e C o lle g e s
and (2) F u t u r e R o le o f th e C o lle g e s . T h e s e m a jo r h e a d in g s w i l l
be f u r t h e r b ro k e n d o w n f o r th e p u rp o s e o f c la r it y .
C u r r e n t R o le o f th e C o lle g e s
N u m b e r o f c o lle g e s
O f th e n in e t y -t w o c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s th e n in f u ll
o p e r a tio n in C a lif o r n ia , e ig h ty -n in e re s p o n d e d to th e q u e s tio n n a ir e .
O f th o s e e ig h t y - n in e , t w e n ty - th r e e w e r e c u r r e n t ly o ffe r in g c la s s e s
o r p r o g r a m s s p e c if ic a lly f o r th e a g e d , s e v e n c o lle g e s h a d d i s
c o n tin u e d c la s s e s and t w e n ty -e ig h t c o lle g e s h a d c o u rs e s o r
p r o g r a m s in th e p la n n in g s ta g e . T h u s t w e n t y - s ix p e r c e n t w e r e
c u r r e n t ly o ffe r in g su ch c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s , t h ir t y - t w o p e r c e n t
h a d th e m in th e p la n n in g s ta g e and e ig h t p e r c e n t h a d d is c o n tin u e d
one o r m o r e c la s s e s . A t o t a l o f t h i r t y - f i v e p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s
72
73
w e r e in s o m e w a y in v o lv e d in th e o ffe r in g o f c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s
to th e a g e d , e it h e r in th e p a s t, p r e s e n t, o r in fu tu r e p la n n in g .
T h e c u r r e n t o ffe r in g s ra n g e d f r o m one c la s s to r a t h e r
e x te n s iv e p r o g r a m s . E x c e p t f o r a h a n d fu l o f c o lle g e s w h ic h h ad
o b v io u s ly ta k e n c o n s id e ra b le tim e and p u t fo r th a good d e a l o f
e f f o r t in th e p la n n in g o f th e p r o g r a m s , m o s t c o lle g e s s e e m e d to be
o p e r a tin g on a h i t - o r - m i s s b a s is . W h ile t w e n ty - th r e e o f th e
c o lle g e s c u r r e n t ly h a d o ffe r in g s , a n o th e r t h ir t y - f o u r c o lle g e s
s p e c if ic a lly r e c o g n iz e d th e n e e d o f e x p a n d in g in to th is a r e a . I f a l l
th e s e c o lle g e s sh o u ld b e g in su ch p r o g r a m s , th e n a b o u t s e v e n ty -fiv e j
I
p e r c e n t o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s w o u ld be in v o lv e d . H o w e v e r , j
a ty p ic a l c o m m e n t o f th e c o lle g e s w a s th a t th e y h a d n o t h ad tim e
to u n d e rta k e th e r e s e a r c h n e e d e d to in s titu te p la n n e d p r o g r a m s
and th e y w e r e lo o k in g f o r w a r d to h e lp f r o m th is p r o je c t . T h e
b a s ic fin d in g s and re c o m m e n d a tio n s o f th is p r o je c t w e r e s e n t to
a l l c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in C a lif o r n ia .
O f th e c la s s e s th a t w e r e d is c o n tin u e d , tw o m a jo r p r o b le m s
w h ic h h a v e b e e n m e n tio n e d s e v e r a l tim e s in th is r e p o r t s e e m e d to !
j
be th e c a u s e . T h e f i r s t p r o b le m w a s la c k o f tr a n s p o r ta tio n . T h e
seco n d w a s " la c k o f in t e r e s t . " T r a n s p o r ta tio n is a c o n s id e ra b le !
p r o b le m f o r o ld e r p e rs o n s and m a y a ls o h a v e b e e n r e s p o n s ib le f o r
th e " la c k o f in t e r e s t " in o th e r c la s s e s . C o lle g e s s e e m to f e e l
th a t w h e n p e rs o n s d o n ’t s ig n up to r e g is t e r f o r a c la s s , th e re a s o n
is la c k o f in t e r e s t . T h e r e a l re a s o n m a y , in fa c t, be h id d e n . I t
c o u ld be la c k o f tr a n s p o r ta tio n , i t c o u ld be p o o r p u b lic it y , i t
74
m a y be p o o r p la n n in g o r tim in g . C o lle g e s t y p ic a lly h a v e n o t h ad
th e t im e to a d e q u a te ly t r a c e th e re a s o n s f o r c o u rs e f a ilu r e s .
H o p e fu lly th e fin d in g s o f th is r e p o r t m a y h e lp c o lle g e s to n a r r o w
d o w n th e re a s o n s o r to p r e v e n t th e f a ilu r e s in th e f i r s t p la c e .
O ffe r in g s
T h e r e w a s a v a r ie t y o f c la s s e s b e in g o ffe r e d b y th e
c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s th ro u g h o u t C a lif o r n ia and i t is in t e r e s tin g
to c o m p a re th e o ffe r in g s w ith the c h o ic e s o f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s .
E x c lu d in g th e s e m in a r a p p ro a c h to th e o ffe r in g o f c o u rs e s w h ic h
w a s u s e d b y s e v e n o f th e c o lle g e s , th e o ffe r in g s o f th e c o lle g e s
a r e a lis t e d b e lo w in o r d e r o f th e n u m b e r o f o ffe r in g s p e r c la s s ,
th e m o s t p o p u la r o ffe r in g b e in g lis te d f i r s t , e tc . :
In c o m e T a x P r e p a r a t io n
P la n n in g Y o u r E s ta te
P r e p a r in g fo r R e t ir e m e n t
P r o b le m s o f R e t ir e m e n t
P s y c h o lo g ic a l A s p e c ts o f A g in g
C h a lle n g e o f M a t u r it y
H e a lth f o r S e n io r C itiz e n s
S o c ia l S e c u r ity and O th e r B e n e fits f o r th e A g e d
T r a in in g fo r C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e
L iv in g in L a t e r L if e
L iv in g W ith in Y o u r In c o m e
H o w to E n jo y R e t ir e m e n t
T h e E l d e r l y as C o n s u m e rs
75
T h e f i r s t c la s s lis te d , i t sh o u ld p e rh a p s be n o te d , is a
c la s s w h ic h is n o r m a lly o ffe r e d f o r a l l a d u lts and w o u ld ta k e lit t le
ch an g e to o f f e r i t s p e c ific a lly fo r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s . T h e seco n d
c la s s is s o m e w h a t s i m ila r in th a t a n u m b e r o f c o lle g e s do h a v e
r a t h e r la r g e p r o g r a m s in th e a r e a o f in v e s tm e n ts , s to c k s and
b o n d s , s p e c u la tio n s , e tc . , and th is c la s s c o u ld a ls o p r o b a b ly be
o ffe r e d w ith l i t t l e c h a n g e o v e r th e n o r m a l c u r r ic u lu m .
T h e t h ir d an d fo u rth c la s s e s lis te d a r e s p e c ific a lly fo r
r e t ir e m e n t p la n n in g . M a n y c o lle g e s a p p e a re d to f e e l th a t t h e ir
p r im a r y r e s p o n s ib ilit y to r e t ir e d p e rs o n s w a s in th e f o r m o f
c o u rs e s w h ic h w o u ld p r e p a r e th e m f o r r e t ir e m e n t . W h ile th is
m a y be t r u e , th e m o s t d if f ic u lt p e rs o n s to re a c h a d e q u a te ly w ith
in f o r m a t io n and p u b lic ity a r e th o s e p r e p a r in g to r e t i r e . T h e y
u s u a lly a r e n o t y e t m e m b e r s o f r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s and h a v e no
c o m m o n b ase e x c e p t f o r th e fa c t th a t th e y a r e e x p e c tin g to r e t i r e .
In s p ite o f th is , th e c o lle g e s w h ic h w e r e o ffe r in g su ch p r o g r a m s
a p p e a re d to be d o in g so s u c c e s s fu lly . H o w e v e r , i t w a s in th e s e
c la s s e s th a t th e c o lle g e s n o te d th e g r e a te s t n u m b e r o f d is c o n
tin u a n c e s , p o s s ib ly d ue to th e p r o b le m s n o te d a b o v e .
T h e a g e d , in re s p o n d in g to t h e ir q u e s tio n n a ir e , u s e d
th e s a m e c o u rs e t it le s to in d ic a te t h e ir c h o ic e s . T h e c o m p a ris o n
sh o u ld be u s e fu l. T h e c o u rs e s lis t e d b e lo w a r e , a g a in , lis t e d in
o r d e r o f p o p u la r ity :
H e a lth f o r S e n io r C itiz e n s
S o c ia l S e c u r ity and O th e r B e n e fits f o r th e A g e d
76
H o w to E n jo y R e t ir e m e n t
C o n v e r s a tio n a l S p a n is h
T h e L a w and Y o u
F in a n c in g th e L a t e r Y e a r s
A r t s and C r a fts
L iv in g W ith in Y o u r In c o m e
In c o m e T a x P r e p a r a t io n
L iv in g in L a t e r L if e
P s y c h o lo g ic a l A s p e c ts o f A g in g
T r a in in g f o r C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e
C o n s u m e r C o n c e rn s
P la n n in g Y o u r E s ta te
R a p id R e a d in g
I t s e e m s a p p a re n t th a t th e a g e d w a n t a v a r ie t y o f c la s s e s ,
n o t ju s t th o s e a im e d to w a r d r e t ir e m e n t p r o b le m s . T h e y a r e m o s t
c o n c e rn e d w ith h e a lth an d g o v e r n m e n ta l b e n e fits . S u ch c o u rs e
s e le c tio n s as C o n v e r s a tio n a l S p a n is h , T h e L a w and Y o u , A r t s
and C r a f t s , C u r r e n t E v e n ts , and o th e rs m a y w e ll in d ic a te th a t
th e c o lle g e a p p ro a c h to d a te h as b e e n to o lim it e d .
T h e s e m in a r a p p ro a c h to th e p ro b le m s o f r e t ir e m e n t
m a y w e ll be th e b e s t id e a in s o fa r as th e to p ic s c a n be m o d ifie d
and ch a n g e d m o r e e a s ily as th e c o lle g e g a in s e x p e r ie n c e and th e
e ld e r ly h a v e a c h an ce to e v a lu a te th e c o n te n t.
T h e fe e lin g on th e p a r t o f s o m e c o lle g e a d m in is tr a t o r s
th a t e ld e r ly p e rs o n s sh o u ld e n r o ll in r e g u la r c la s s e s in a l l
77
a r e a s th a t a r e n o t s t r i c t l y lim it e d to th e p r o b le m s o f r e t ir e m e n t
w o u ld s e e m to be a d if f ic u lt p o s itio n to m a in t a in , g iv e n th e
r e s e a r c h fin d in g s in d ic a tin g th e e ld e r ly 's n e e d f o r m o r e in f o r m a l
s itu a tio n s , e tc . I f th e r e a r e a d e q u a te n u m b e rs o f e ld e r ly p e rs o n s
to f i l l up c la s s e s a im e d s p e c if ic a lly a t th e m — r e g a r d le s s o f th e
s u b je c t a r e a — th e r e w o u ld s e e m to be l i t t l e fo r th e c o lle g e s to
lo s e an d p e rh a p s a good d e a l to g a in in the good w i l l o f th e e ld e r ly .
T h is p r o b le m is e v e n m o r e a c c e n te d w h e n i t is p o in te d o u t th e
h e a v y r e q u e s ts f o r d a y tim e c la s s e s on th e p a r t o f th e e ld e r ly .
P r o b le m a r e a s
O n e o f th e p r o b le m a r e a s , th a t o f o ffe r in g c la s s e s
s p e c if ic a lly f o r r e t i r e d p e rs o n s , h as ju s t b e e n d is c u s s e d a b o v e .
A n o th e r a r e a o f c o n c e rn is th a t o f th e c la s s e n v ir o n m e n t.
T h e r e s e a r c h in d ic a te d th e n e e d fo r m o r e in f o r m a l s u rro u n d in g s ,
m o r e p r o v is io n f o r d is c u s s io n and g iv e -a n d -ta k e s e s s io n s , e tc .
T h e c o lle g e s th e m s e lv e s in d ic a te d a n a w a re n e s s o f th is p r o b le m
w h e n f if t y - s e v e n p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s s a id th a t th e y d id m a k e
an e f f o r t to ch an g e th e e n v ir o n m e n ta l s itu a tio n . H o w e v e r , w h e n
th e c o lle g e s lis t e d s p e c ific c la s s e s , o n ly a s m a ll m in o r it y o f th e
c la s s e s w e r e h e ld in o th e r th a n r e g u la r c la s s r o o m s . T h e m o s t
c o m m o n ch an g e w a s to a f a c ilit y c lo s e r to th e c lie n t e le . T h e
e n v ir o n m e n t c a n be c h a n g e d w ith in a n o r m a l c la s s r o o m th ro u g h
g ro u p d is c u s s io n s , a f f in it y c ir c le s , e tc . , b u t th e b a s ic p r o b le m
o f c o m fo r t f o r e ld e r ly b o d ie s s t i l l r e m a in s . A s u rv e y o f m o s t
c la s s r o o m s in d ic a te s th a t h a r d b a c k c h a ir s , m a d e f o r m o r e
78
y o u th fu l b o d ie s , and o fte n a tta c h e d d e s k s w ith l i t t l e ro o m f o r th e
o fte n g r e a t e r s to u tn e s s o f th e e ld e r ly , a r e s t i l l a lm o s t u n iv e r s a l.
W h e r e v e r p o s s ib le , c o n fe re n c e r o o m s , lo u n g e s , e tc . ,
w o u ld be f a r m o r e a p p r o p r ia te f o r th e e ld e r ly c lie n t e le . In m a n y
c a s e s th e s e ro o m s a r e v a c a n t a n u m b e r o f h o u rs d u rin g th e d a y
— w h en c la s s e s f o r th e e ld e r ly sh o u ld be h e ld .
A r e la t e d p r o b le m is one o f p la c e . M o s t c o lle g e s a r e
s t i l l o ffe r in g r e t ir e m e n t c la s s e s on t h e ir ow n c a m p u s e s . T h is
m a y be a p p r o p r ia te in c e r ta in s itu a tio n s , b u t c a m p u s e s a r e o fte n
n o t n e a r th e c o n c e n tra tio n s o f e ld e r ly p e r s o n s . T r a n s p o r t a tio n
is th e s in g le m o s t im p o r ta n t p r o b le m f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s , e v e n
in C a lif o r n ia w h e r e m o s t f a m ilie s h a v e p r iv a t e a u to m o b ile s .
C o lle g e s n e e d to lo o k o u ts id e t h e ir c a m p u s e s to r e t ir e m e n t
c e n te r s , c o m m u n ity h a lls , c h u rc h e s , e tc . , w h e re th e s e o ffe rin g s
can be h e ld , o fte n a t no a d d itio n a l e x p e n s e to th e c o lle g e s . H e r e
th e c o lle g e s c o u ld w e ll m a k e u se o f a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s , e s p e c
i a l l y i f th e y c o n ta in r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f th e r e t ir e d c o m m u n ity .
M a n y o f th e s e r e t ir e d r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s w o u ld h a v e th e tim e and the
in t e r e s t to fin d a p p r o p r ia te o ff-c a m p u s f a c ilit ie s .
T h e a r e a o f a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s is a ls o im p o r ta n t .
O n ly e le v e n c o lle g e s s e le c te d r e t ir e d p e rs o n s f o r a d v is o r y
c o m m itte e s . H o w e v e r , fiv e o f th e s e v e n c o lle g e s h a v in g th e
la r g e s t p r o g r a m s f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s d id s e le c t r e t ir e d p e rs o n s to
s e rv e on a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s . S e v e r a l o f th e c o lle g e s in d ic a tin g
th a t th e y w e r e n e w ly m o v in g in to th is a r e a -a ls o a p p o in te d r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s to a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s .
79
I t w o u ld s e e m th a t th e d if f ic u lt y in v o lv e d in g e ttin g a
s te a d y and a p p r o p r ia te r e v ie w o f p r o g r a m s f o r th e r e t ir e d w o u ld
be c o n s id e r a b ly in c r e a s e d w ith o u t h a v in g r e t ir e d p e rs o n s on th e
a p p r o p r ia te a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s . A s K n o w le s has p o in te d o u t,
a l l r e le v a n t p a r t ie s m u s t be in c lu d e d in th e p o lic y m a k in g and
m a n a g e m e n t o f th e p r o g r a m in o r d e r to h a v e a p p r o p r ia te o r g a n
iz a t io n a l c lim a te and s t r u c t u r e , (s e e p a g e s 2 3 -2 5 ) T h is la c k o f
e ld e r ly p a r t ic ip a t io n a ls o d e p r iv e s th e c o lle g e s o f m u c h e x p e r
ie n c e and a v a ila b le tim e w h ic h th e e ld e r ly co u ld c o n tr ib u te . O n e
o f th e b a s ic p u rp o s e s o f e d u c a tio n fo r th e aged is th e c o n s e rv a tio n
o f h u m a n r e s o u r c e s , y e t th e c o lle g e s a r e a p p a r e n tly n o t m a k in g
a d e q u a te u se o f th e h u m a n re s o u r c e s a lr e a d y p r e s e n t in t h e ir
c o m m u n itie s .
W e h a v e n o w to u c h e d s o lid ly on a n o th e r p r o b le m and th a t
is c o h e r e n t c u r r ic u lu m . T h e r e s e a r c h in d ic a te d th a t th is w a s one
o f th e m a jo r p r o b le m s in a d u lt e d u c a tio n . T h e q u e s tio n n a ire
re s p o n s e f r o m th e c o lle g e s a ls o p o in te d up th is p r o b le m . T h is
s u b je c t w i l l be f u r t h e r c o v e re d in th e la s t c h a p te r u n d e r R e c o m
m e n d a tio n s , and d e lv e d in to in c o n s id e ra b le d e t a il in th e la s t
s e c tio n o f th is c h a p te r u n d e r th e s e c tio n s , D e v e lo p in g a P r o g r a m
and R e la tio n to In s t it u t io n a l G o a ls .
F u tu r e R o le o f th e C o lle g e s
E x p a n s io n
A s n o te d n e a r th e b e g in n in g o f th is c h a p te r , t h ir t y - t w o
p e r c e n t o f th e c o lle g e s in d ic a te d th a t th e y had c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s
80
f o r th e e ld e r ly in th e p la n n in g s ta g e . F if t e e n o f th e c o lle g e s n o t
n o w o ffe r in g such c la s s e s in d ic a te d th a t th e y w e r e in te r e s te d in
e x p a n d in g in to th is a r e a . I f a l l th e c o lle g e s w h ic h c o n trib u te d th e
o p in io n th a t th e y w e r e in te r e s te d in e x p a n d in g in to th is a r e a d id
so , th e n s o m e s e v e n ty -fiv e p e r c e n t o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s
w o u ld he in v o lv e d .
T h e r e s e a r c h (H e n d ric k s o n and B a r n e s , J o h n s to n e and
R iv e r a , an d T h o r n to n )(5 5 , 13, 31) in d ic a te d th a t th e p o te n tia l
a u d ie n c e o f r e t i r e d p e rs o n s is c o n s id e r a b le . C e r t a in ly a f a i r l y
good p e rc e n ta g e o f th e 1 .8 m illio n r e t ir e d p e rs o n s in C a lif o r n ia
a r e p o te n tia l p r o s p e c ts . T h i r t y - s i x p e r c e n t o f th e ag ed q u e s tio n e d ;
in d ic a te d a d e fin ite in t e r e s t in ta k in g c o u rs e s a t c o m m u n ity c o l
le g e s . I f w e a p p ly th is to th e a s s u m p tio n s th a t th is s a m p le w a s
r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f a t le a s t f if t y p e r c e n t o f th e r e t ir e d p o p u la tio n o f
C a lif o r n ia , th e n s o m e 3 2 5 , 0 0 0 r e t ir e d p e rs o n s th ro u g h o u t th e
s ta te o f C a lif o r n ia w o u ld h a v e a d e fin ite in t e r e s t in ta k in g c o u rs e s
a t c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s . N o c u r r e n t a c c u ra te e s tim a te e x is ts o f
th e c u r r e n t e n r o llm e n t o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s in the c o m m u n ity c o l
le g e s b u t c e r t a in ly none h a v e e s tim a te d th a t th e y w o u ld n u m b e r
o n e - t h ir d o f th e c u r r e n t c o lle g e e n r o llm e n t. T h e r e s u lts o f th is j
|
s tu d y w o u ld in d ic a te th a t s o m e 1 4 4 ,0 0 0 r e t ir e d p e rs o n s .h a v e
a tte n d e d a c o m m u n ity c o lle g e c la s s s o m e tim e w ith in th e la s t te n
y e a r s .
In a n y c a s e , th e r e s e a r c h g iv e s a d e q u a te b a s is fo r
p r e d ic tin g th a t th e r e is an a d e q u a te b ase o f in te r e s te d r e t ir e d
81
p e rs o n s f o r p r a c t ic a lly a l l c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s to h a v e s o m e ty p e
o f p r o g r a m in th is a r e a . A n u m b e r o f c o lle g e s p r o b a b ly sh o u ld
h a v e r a t h e r la r g e p r o g r a m s fo r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s .
O ffe r in g s
T h e r e s u lts o f th is s tu d y in d ic a te th a t th e c o lle g e s sh o u ld
be m o r e a w a r e o f th e v a r ie t y o f in te r e s ts w h ic h th e r e t ir e d p o p u la
tio n h a s . C o u rs e s in c u r r e n t e v e n ts a r e a s , a r ts and c r a f t s , c o n
v e r s a t io n a l la n g u a g e , th e p r a c t ic a l a s p e c ts o f th e la w , e tc . , a l l
w o u ld a p p e a r to be p r im e in t e r e s t a r e a s f o r th e r e t ir e d . C o lle g e s
sh o u ld a t le a s t e x p e r im e n t w ith o ffe r in g th e s e c o u rs e s e s p e c ia lly
fo r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s and n o t m a k e th e m ta k e th e c o u rs e s in la r g e r
s e c tio n s . I t s h o u ld be n o te d h e r e th a t th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s w e r e
r a t h e r a d a m a n t in t h e ir d e s ir e f o r n o n - c r e d it c o u rs e s , and th is
is a n o th e r p r o b le m in a s k in g th e m to e n r o ll in r e g u la r c la s s e s .
C o u rs e s in p r e - r e t i r e m e n t e d u c a tio n h a d th e g r e a te s t
p e rc e n ta g e o f d is c o n tin u a n c e , so c o lle g e s m u s t be c a r e fu l to g iv e
a d e q u a te p r e p a r a tio n to th e c o u rs e s , in c lu d in g s u rv e y s o f th e
n e e d , a d e q u a te p u b lic it y , e tc . , in o r d e r to in s u r e s u c c e s s . T h is
d o es n o t m e a n th e s e c o u rs e s sh o u ld be s h ie d a w a y f r o m as th e y
a r e a v e r y im p o r t a n t s e r v ic e .
C h a n g e s n e e d e d in m e th o d s and p r a c tic e s
A s w a s d is c u s s e d a b o v e , one o f th e c h an g es n e e d e d in
m e th o d s and p r a c tic e s i f f o r m o r e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s to be
a p p o in te d to r e le v a n t a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s . T h e c o lle g e s n e e d
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th e a d v ic e w h ic h c a n c o m e f r o m r e t ir e d p e rs o n s and th e c o lle g e s
a ls o n e e d th e tim e and e f f o r t w h ic h r e t ir e d p e rs o n s can p u t in to
an im p o r t a n t p r o je c t .
C o lle g e s n e e d to p la c e r e s p o n s ib ility f o r th e d e v e lo p m e n t
o f p r o g r a m s and c o u rs e s f o r th e r e t ir e d a t an a p p r o p r ia te a d m in
is t r a t iv e le v e l to in s u r e a d e q u a te c o lle g e s u p p o rt. T h e s e a d m in
is t r a t iv e p e r s o n n e l, h o w e v e r, p ro b a b ly sh o u ld n o t be th e one
e x c lu s iv e in v o lv e d in th e p la n n in g and p r o m o tio n o f su ch p r o g r a m s .
T h e o th e r p r e s s u r e s on t h e ir tim e w o u ld p ro b a b ly r e s u lt in
in a d e q u a te tim e and e f f o r t b e in g p la c e d on th e c o n c e rn e d p r o g r a m s .
R a th e r fa c u lty m e m b e r s o r s u b -a d m in is tr a tiv e p e rs o n n e l w o u ld
p r o b a b ly h a v e m o r e tim e a v a ila b le f o r c a r r y in g o u t s tu d ie s , c o o r d
in a tio n , e tc . I t is s tr o n g ly re c o m m e n d e d th a t, a t le a s t f o r the
f i r s t y e a r o r s o , th e r e s p o n s ib le s u b - a d m in is tr a tiv e p e rs o n n e l
be g iv e n r e le a s e d t im e to in s u r e th e tim e n e e d e d . T h e c o lle g e
a d m in is t r a t io n sh o u ld be c o m m itte d e n o u g h to th e p r o g r a m to
p r o v id e th is r e le a s e d t im e .
C o o r d in a tio n w ith o th e r a g e n c ie s is an im p o r ta n t p a r t
o f th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f su ch a p r o g r a m and m o r e p r o b a b ly n e e d s to
be done b y th e c o lle g e s in th is a r e a . C o o r d in a tio n w ith o th e r
c o n c e rn e d p u b lic a g e n c ie s su ch as th e l i b r a r i e s , p a r k and r e c r e
a tio n d is t r ic t s , h ig h s c h o o l d is t r ic t s , e tc . , w o u ld s e e m to be a
m in im u m e f f o r t in o r d e r to in s u r e undue o v e r la p o f e f f o r t and
o ffe r in g s , and th e s e a g e n c ie s m a y a ls o be a b le to p r o v id e f a c i l i
t ie s , f a c u lty , e tc . , n e e d e d fo r th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f su ch a p r o g r a m .
83
C o o r d in a tio n w ith r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s b o th lo c a l and
la r g e r in sco p e c a n a ls o be v e r y a d v a n ta g e o u s . S uch r e t ir e m e n t
o r g a n iz a tio n s as th e R e t ir e d T e a c h e r s A s s o c ia tio n , th e A A R P ,
and th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g , c a n g iv e v a lu a b le a d v ic e
on p r o g r a m s and th e n e e d s o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s . T h e In s tit u te o f
L if e t im e L e a r n in g , f o r in s ta n c e , is v e r y in te r e s te d in th e p o s s i
b il i t y o f c o n s id e r a b le c o o p e ra tio n w ith th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s
and c a n p r o v id e th e c o lle g e s w ith in fo r m a tio n , c o n ta c ts w ith
r e t ir e d g ro u p s and in d iv id u a ls , and in fo r m a tio n b a s e d upon t h e ir
ow n e x p e r ie n c e s in o ffe r in g c la s s e s f o r th e a g e d .
P u b lic it y m e th o d s a p p e a r to be a d e q u a te a t th e c u r r e n t
tim e e x c e p t in th e la r g e r c it ie s . N e w s p a p e rs a r e the m o s t
c o m m o n m e a n s o f c o m m u n ic a tio n and th is sh o u ld be s u p p le m e n te d
b y lo c a l n e w s p a p e rs and r a t io and te le v is io n w h e re p o s s ib le .
W ith th e in c r e a s e d e m p h a s is on p u b lic s e r v ic e b ro a d c a s tin g ,
c o lle g e s m a y be a b le to m a k e m o r e use o f th e a ir w a v e s .
S o m e c o lle g e s o p e ra te on th e p h ilo s o p h y th a t i f a c o u rs e
is w o r th o ffe r in g , i t is w o r th o ffe r in g f o r c r e d it . T h e r e is no
r e a l p r o b le m w ith th a t as f a r as th is p r o je c t is c o n c e rn e d , b u t
a llo w a n c e s h o u ld be m a d e f o r th o s e p e rs o n s w ho do n o t w a n t
to ta k e c o u rs e s f o r c r e d it . T h e r e t ir e d p e o p le w e re s tr o n g ly in
fa v o r o f n o n - c r e d it c la s s e s . T h e r e f o r e , i t w o u ld s e e m re a s o n a b le
th a t c la s s e s o ffe r e d s p e c if ic a lly f o r th e m be on th a t b a s is e v e n
i f th e y w o u ld be n o r m a lly o ffe r e d f o r c r e d it . S o m e c o lle g e s
a ls o a llo w s tu d e n ts to ta k e c la s s e s f o r c r e d it o r to ch o o se
no c r e d it . M a n y r e t ir e d p e rs o n s d id n o t s e e m to r e a liz e th is o p tio n
84
w a s a v a ila b le so c o lle g e s sh o u ld t r y to m a k e th is c le a r e r in t h e ir
p u b lic ity and lis tin g s o f c la s s e s .
D e v e lo p in g a p r o g r a m
M a n y o f th e a r e a s o f c o n c e rn in th e d e v e lo p in g o f a p r o
g r a m f o r o ld e r p e rs o n s h a v e a lr e a d y b e e n d is c u s s e d ; h o w e v e r ,
lis t e d b e lo w is an o u tlin e o f p r o c e d u r e s f o r d e v e lo p in g su ch a
p r o g r a m b a s e d u pon th e in f o r m a tio n d e v e lo p e d in th is r e p o r t :
1. T h e r e m u s t be a d e q u a te c o lle g e c o m m itm e n t f o r su ch a
p r o g r a m . T h is w i l l be in d ic a te d b y th e a s s ig n m e n t o f
p e r s o n n e l to s u p e rv is e an d d e v e lo p th e p r o g r a m , a d e q u a te
fin a n c e s to a llo w f o r n e e d e d p u b lic ity , c o o rd in a tio n ,
c o n fe re n c e e x p e n s e s , e tc . R e le a s e d tim e sh o u ld be
g iv e n to a t le a s t one s ta ff m e m b e r in o r d e r to s u r v e y th e
lo c a l n e e d s , do m u c h o f th e i n i t i a l c o o rd in a tio n , e tc .
2 . A d e q u a te th o u g h t m u s t be g iv e n to th e r e la tio n s h ip o f the
p r o g r a m to th e t o t a l in s tit u tio n a l g o a ls . T h is w i l l be
d is c u s s e d f u r t h e r b e lo w .
3. T h e g e n e r a l g o a ls o f th e p r o g r a m m u s t be d e v e lo p e d
e a r ly in th e p la n n in g in o r d e r th a t a l l o ffe r in g s be n o t
o n ly n e e d -m e e tin g b u t a ls o g o a l- f u lf illin g .
4 . A l l r e le v a n t p a r tie s m u s t b e in c lu d e d in th e p o lic y m a k in g
and m a n a g e m e n t o f th e p r o g r a m in c lu d in g a d m in is t r a tio n ,
fa c u lty , r e t i r e d p e rs o n s , r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f o th e r
a g e n c ie s , e tc .
85
5. A h ig h le v e l o f s ta ff s e r v ic e , e s p e c ia lly c le r ic a l , m u s t
be a v a ila b le .
6 . R o o m d e s ig n a tio n and o ff-c a m p u s f a c ilit ie s m u s t be c o n
d u c iv e to le a r n in g f o r o ld e r a d u lts .
7. A n u p - t o - d a t e s u r v e y o f th e n e e d s o f o ld e r a d u lts m u s t
be m a in ta in e d s h o w in g lo c a l p r e f e r e n c e s .
8 . T h e p r o g r a m m u s t be d ir e c te d in a w a y to in s u r e th e
s e r v in g o f th e n e e d s and p u rp o s e s o f th e a g e d and n o t ju s t
th a t o f th e c o lle g e o r p a r t ic u la r d e p a r tm e n ts .
9 . C o n s id e ra b le tim e and e f f o r t m a y be n e e d e d to fin d th e j
\ j
h ig h e s t q u a lity o f le a d e r s and in s tr u c to r s f o r th e c la s s e s . j
A n u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e p ro b le m s o f o ld age is e s s e n tia l.
10. P r o m o t io n a l and p u b lic r e la tio n s s e r v ic e s m u s t be
e a s ily a v a ila b le to a d v a n c e th e o b je c tiv e s o f th e p r o g r a m ,
e s p e c ia lly in th e re a c h in g o f th e c lie n te le w ith a p p r o p r ia te
in f o r m a t io n . .
1 1. A lo n g - t e r m c o m m itm e n t is n e c e s s a r y on th e p a r t o f th e
in s titu tio n in o r d e r to g iv e th e p r o g r a m c o n tin u ity and
i
to a v o id th e a p p e a ra n c e o f h e r e -t o d a y , g o n e -to m o r r o w j
i
th a t to o o fte n c h a r a c te r iz e s ill- p la n n e d i n i t i a l p r o g r a m s . j
R e la tio n to in s t it u t io n a l g o a ls
A s s ta te d on th e p re v io u s p a g e , a d e q u a te th o u g h t m u s t
be g iv e n to th e r e la tio n s h ip o f th e p r o g r a m to th e to t a l in s titu t io n a l
g o a ls . Is th e in s titu tio n t r u ly c o m m itte d to s e r v in g th e n e e d s o f
86
a l l its p u b lic s o r o n ly s o m e o f th e m ? C a n th e p o lic y o f n o - c r e d it
c la s s e s be m a in ta in e d in th e c u r r e n t c o lle g e a tm o s p h e re ? Is th e
c o m m itm e n t to th is p r o g r a m t r u l y a lo n g -r a n g e and d e e p - f e lt c o m
m itm e n t o r o n ly a r e a c tio n to an im m e d ia te n e e d ?
I f th e p r o g r a m c an be sh o w n to f i t in w ith th e in s titu tio n a l
g o a ls — and i t s h o u ld , g iv e n th e id e a o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e —
th e n th is r e la tio n s h ip m u s t be m a d e c le a r to a l l c o n c e rn e d , th e
a d m in is t r a t io n , th e fa c u lty , th e c la s s ifie d s ta ff, th e s tu d e n ts . I f
th is is a c c o m p lis h e d , th e n th e p ro c e s s o f d e v e lo p in g th e p r o g r a m ,
and th e s te p s in v o lv e d in so d o in g as lis te d a b o v e , sh o u ld be
r e la t iv e ly s im p le . T h is r e la tio n s h ip m u s t be e s ta b lis h e d f i r s t ,
h o w e v e r , an d n o t v is a - v e r s a i f th e p r o g r a m is to h a v e m u c h hope
o f s u c c e s s .
I
CHAPTER VI
S U M M A R Y , C O N C L U S IO N S A N D R E C O M M E N D A T IO N S
F o r p u rp o s e s o f c la r it y , th is c h a p te r is d iv id e d in to th r e e
s e c tio n s , (1) S u m m a r y o f th e S tu d y , (2 ) C o n c lu s io n s , and (3) R e c o m
m e n d a tio n s .
S u m m a r y o f th e S tu d y
S ta te m e n t o f th e p r o b le m
W ith th e g ro w in g n u m b e r and p o lit ic a l p o w e r o f r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s in C a lif o r n ia , to g e th e r w ith t h e ir n e e d s w ith in th e a r e a o f
e d u c a tio n , th e r e e x is ts a s ig n ific a n t n e e d to f i l l s o m e o f the
r e s e a r c h g aps e x is te n t in th is a r e a . T h e p r o b le m o f th is s tu d y w a s
to d e te r m in e th e r o le o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia in
th e e d u c a tio n o f th e a g e d . O f p a r t ic u la r in t e r e s t w e r e th e c u r r e n t
p r a c t ic e s , p r o b le m s , and s u c c e s s e s o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in
o ffe r in g c la s s e s fo r r e t ir e d o r a g e d p e rs o n s and a ls o th e c u r r e n t
n e e d s and d e s ir e s o f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s th e m s e lv e s . F u r t h e r ,
th e c o lle g e s a r e in n e e d o f an o u tlin e o f m e a s u r e s and p ro c e d u re s
to fo llo w in in it ia t in g and c o n d u c tin g p r o g r a m s f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s ,
sh o u ld th e y d e c id e th a t th e s e p r o g r a m s a r e w ith in th e p r o p e r r o le
f o r th e c o lle g e s w ith in e a c h lo c a l c o m m u n ity .
87
88
S ig n ific a n c e o f th e p r o b le m
E v e n th o u g h r e s e a r c h is c u r r e n t ly lim it e d , m a n y
in d ic a to r s p o in t to th e fa c t th a t th e e ld e r ly y e t h a v e m a n y n eed s
w h ic h sh o u ld be m e t one w a y o r th e o th e r . T h e s ig n ific a n c e o f
th is p r o je c t on th e c o lle g e s a p p e a rs g r e a te s t in th e a r e a s o f
c u r r ic u lu m and e d u c a tio n a l g o a ls and in th e b e n e fits to th e c o lle g e s
w h ic h can r e s u lt f r o m th e c lo s e r and b e tte r r e la tio n s h ip o f the
ag ed to th e c o lle g e s . T h e s ig n ific a n c e o f th is p r o je c t upo n the
w e ll- b e in g o f th e a g e d a p p e a rs to be g r e a t , e s p e c ia lly in th e a re a s
o f th e a v a ila b ilit y o f c o u rs e s , p r o g r a m s and tr a in in g n e e d e d b y th e
a g e d . T h e s ig n ific a n c e a ls o a p p e a rs im p o r ta n t to th e c o u n try in
g e n e r a l w h e n th e p r o s p e c t o f g r e a t e r c o n s e rv a tio n o f h u m a n
r e s o u r c e s is c o n s id e r e d .
S co p e o f th e in v e s tig a tio n
T h is s tu d y in c lu d e d a s u r v e y o f th e lit e r a t u r e r e la t in g to
th e r o le o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in th e e d u c a tio n o f th e a g e d and
in c lu d in g th e n e e d s an d in te r e s t s o f th e a g e d . E m p h a s is w a s p la c e d
on th e le a r n in g a b ilit ie s o f th e a g e d , th e e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s o f
r e t ir e d p e r s o n s , th e p o te n tia l a u d ie n c e o f a g e d p e rs o n s , th e e x p e r
ie n c e s o f c o lle g e s in o ffe r in g e d u c a tio n to th e a g e d , and g e n e r a l
p r o b le m s a s s o c ia te d w ith o ffe r in g su ch e d u c a tio n a l s e r v ic e s .
T h e c u r r e n t ly a c tiv e n in e ty -tw o c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s o f
C a lif o r n ia w e r e q u e s tio n e d to d e te r m in e t h e ir c u r r e n t o ffe r in g s in
th is f ie ld , t h e ir m e th o d s o f re a c h in g th e r e t i r e d , th e a p p o in tm e n t
o f a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s , s p e c ia l e n v ir o n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s f o r th e
89
o ffe r in g o f c la s s e s , a s s ig n m e n t o f fa c u lty o r a d m in is tr a to r s to
c o o r d in a tio n o r s u p e r v is io n in th is a r e a and c o m m e n ts and s u g
g e s tio n s b a s e d u p o n p a s t e x p e r ie n c e .
R e t ir e d p e rs o n s in C a lif o r n ia w e r e q u e s tio n e d b y m e a n s
o f a q u e s tio n n a ir e d e liv e r e d to 2 0 0 0 r e t ir e d p e rs o n s th ro u g h th e
c o o p e ra tio n o f th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g and th e A A R P .
T h e q u e s tio n n a ir e w a s d e s ig n e d to d is c o v e r th e b a s ic c h a r a c t e r
is t ic s o f th e s e r e t i r e d p e rs o n s and t h e ir e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s , d e s ir e s ,
and a w a r e n e s s .
j
D e f in it io n o f t e r m s j
T w o t e r m s w e r e d e fin e d to a id in th e c o n d u c tin g and
u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e s tu d y . T h e t e r m " a g e d " w a s d e fin e d to
m e a n th o s e p e rs o n s s ix t y - f iv e o r o v e r as w e ll as th o s e b e tw e e n
f i f t y - f i v e an d s ix t y - f iv e w h o w e r e r e t ir e d f r o m f u ll- t im e e m p lo y
m e n t. T h e t e r m " r e t ir e d p e r s o n s " w a s u s e d in te r c h a n g e a b ly w ith
th e t e r m "a g e d . " T h e t e r m " e d u c a tio n " w a s d e fin e d to m e a n a l l
a c t iv it ie s o f a n e d u c a tio n a l n a tu r e th a t w o u ld n o r m a lly be h e ld in
i
a c la s s r o o m o r s i m i l a r s t r u c t u r e , and th a t w o u ld c o n s is t o f a j
s p e c ific c u r r ic u lu m n o t d e s ig n e d s o le ly f o r th e e n te r ta in m e n t o f j
th e p a r t ic ip a n t s . S u ch c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s c o u ld be g ra d e d o r j
i
u n g ra d e d an d o ffe r e d w ith o r w ith o u t c r e d it .
A s s u m p tio n s
T h r e e b a s ic a s s u m p tio n s w e r e m a d e : (1) th e C a lif o r n ia
C o m m u n ity C o lle g e s h a v e a n o b lig a tio n to s e rv e t h e ir v a r io u s
90
p u b lic s ; (2 ) th e m e m b e r s h ip o f th e A A R P w a s r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f
th e in t e r e s t e d an d a c tiv e r e t ir e d o r ag ed p e rs o n s w ho w o u ld m o s t
l ik e ly ta k e p a r t , a t le a s t a t th e b e g in n in g , in c la s s e s and p r o g r a m s
a t th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s ; and (3) th e s a m p le o f th e A A R P m e m b e r
s h ip in C a lif o r n ia w a s r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f a t le a s t f if t y p e r c e n t o f th e
r e t i r e d p o p u la tio n o f C a lif o r n ia .
E n d o r s e m e n ts
T h is p r o je c t w a s e n d o rs e d b y th e C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity
C o lle g e C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n A s s o c ia tio n and th e A A R P and its
a s s o c ia te d In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g .
C o n c lu s io n s
T h e lit e r a t u r e
T h e c h a p te r w h ic h re v ie w e d th e lit e r a t u r e r e le v a n t to
th is s tu d y c o n c e n tra te d on s e v e n a s p e c ts o f th e p r o b le m : (1) a d u lt
and a g e d le a r n in g a b ilit ie s ; (2) c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f th e ag ed ;
(3 ) e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s o f th e ag e d ; (4) p o te n tia l a u d ie n c e o f ag ed
p e r s o n s ; (5) e x p e r ie n c e s o f c o lle g e s in o ffe r in g e d u c a tio n to th e
a g e d ; (6) g e n e r a l p r o b le m s in o ffe r in g e d u c a tio n to th e a g e d ; and
(7 ) o th e r e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s f o r th e a g e d .
T h e fin d in g s o f th e lit e r a t u r e in th e a r e a o f a d u lt and
a g e d le a r n in g a b ilit ie s sh o w ed r a t h e r s tr o n g ly th a t th e im a g e
w h ic h s o c ie ty in g e n e r a l and th e ag ed th e m s e lv e s h a v e h a d a b o u t
th e m e n ta l a b ilit ie s o f th e a g e d a r e due m o r e to a f a u lt y im a g e o f
a g in g th a n to a n y r e a l b a s is o f fa c t w h ic h w o u ld in d ic a te a n y
in t e lle c t u a l d e fic i t s .
91
T h e ag ed do d e c lin e in c e r t a in s c h o o l-r e la te d a s p e c ts .
T h e y d e c lin e in s p e e d , m a n u a l d e x t e r it y , v is u a l a c u ity , and m o t i
v a tio n . H o w e v e r , in th e a r e a s o f v o c a b u la r y , g e n e r a l in fo r m a tio n ,
v e r b a l re a s o n in g , ju d g m e n t, e tc . , o ld e r a d u lts o fte n show d e fin ite
g a in s . T h e s e a r e a s g e n e r a lly h a v e to do w ith th e e x p e rie n c e g a in e d
b y th e o ld e r p e rs o n .
I t w a s a ls o s h o w n th a t o ld e r a d u lts v a r y in t h e ir a b ilit ie s
and in t e r e s t s as do o th e r ag e g ro u p s . O ld e r a d u lts w ho r e m a in
m e n t a lly a c tiv e sh o w le s s m e n ta l d e t e r io r a t io n th a n th o s e w ho d o n 't
r e m a in a c tiv e .
T h e m a jo r a r e a o f c o n c e rn in th e a r e a o f ag ed le a r n in g
a b ilit ie s s e e m s to be in th e a r e a o f m o tiv a tio n . M a n y o f th e ag ed
a ls o h a v e th e t r a d it io n a l id e a th a t th e y c a n 't le a r n o r h a v e v e r y
p o o r m e m o r ie s . T h e s e n e g a tiv e a ttitu d e s w i l l c e r t a in ly e ffe c t
th e o ld e r a d u lts ' m o tiv a tio n a b o u t r e t u r n in g to s c h o o l, ta k in g te s ts ,
e tc . T h is m a y a ls o be one o f th e m a jo r fa c to r s in th e o ld e r a d u lts '
r e q u e s t th a t c o lle g e c la s s e s be g iv e n to th e m on a n o - c r e d it b a s is .
I t is tr u e th a t m a n y o r m o s t o f th e m p r o b a b ly do n o t n e e d th e
c r e d it , b u t th e a s p e c t o f p o s s ib le f a ilu r e in a c r e d it c la s s m a y be
a p o w e r fu l b a r r i e r to a tte n d a n c e .
T h e p r o b le m f o r the c o lle g e s in th is r e g a r d a p p e a rs
tw o fo ld : (1) T h e r e a p p a r e n tly is g r e a t n e e d f o r m o r e e d u c a tio n o f
th e g e n e r a l p u b lic in the a r e a o f a d u lt and a g e d le a r n in g a b ilit ie s .
T h is e d u c a tio n sh o u ld s t a r t , n o t ju s t a t th e c o lle g e le v e l, b u t in
th e lo w e r g ra d e s as w e ll. In fo r m a t io n on a g in g and th e e ffe c ts o f
92
a g in g p r o b a b ly sh o u ld be ta u g h t a t v a r io u s le v e ls and w o u ld a p p e a r
to be p a r t i c u la r l y a p p r o p r ia te in th e s o c ia l s c ie n c e a r e a s . (2)
T h e r e is a ls o a n e e d to r e a c h th e ag ed w ith th is in fo r m a tio n and
e n c o u ra g e th e m to r e t u r n to c o lle g e , e s p e c ia lly to b e g in b y a tte n d
in g c la s s e s c r e a te d s p e c ific a lly fo r th e m in th e c o lle g e s o r in the
a d u lt h ig h s c h o o ls . T h e g e n e r a l w e lfa r e o f th e c o u n try w o u ld s e e m
to d e m a n d th e s e re s p o n s e s as a m in im u m e f f o r t on th e p a r t o f th e
sc h o o ls and c o lle g e s .
T h e l i t e r a t u r e re v ie w in g th e c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f th e ag ed
as th e y p e r t a in to th e e d u c a tio n p r o b le m b o re ou t th e fin d in g s n o te d
a b o v e . O ld e r p e rs o n s a r e n o t g e n e r a lly n e g le c te d and is o la te d .
S e p a r a te h o u s e h o ld s in d ic a te th e s o c ia l a fflu e n c e o f th e c o u n try
r a t h e r th a n n e g le c t o r is o la tio n . F e w o f th e ag ed in d ic a te sig n s
o f s e n ilit y o r m e n ta l illn e s s . M o s t p e rs o n s o v e r th e age o f s ix t y -
fiv e a r e r e la t iv e ly h a p p y and b e lie v e th e m s e lv e s to be in good
h e a lth .
T h e im p o r t a n t a s p e c t o f th is r e s e a r c h , in a d d itio n to
p o in tin g o u t th e m is c o n c e p tio n s p r e v a le n t in th is s o c ie ty , w a s th e
e m p h a s is u p o n th e d iffe r e n c e s b e tw e e n th e n o r m a l c o lle g e aged
p o p u la tio n and e v e n th e n o r m a l a d u lt p o p u la tio n p r e s e n t in the
c o lle g e s and th e ag ed p o p u la tio n . T h e a g e d p o p u la tio n does h a v e
n e e d s s o m e w h a t d if f e r e n t th a n th e o th e r s . T h e y n e e d and w a n t
c la s s e s w h ic h ta k e n o te o f and u se t h e ir s u b s ta n tia l r e s e r v o ir s o f
in f o r m a t io n . T h e y le a r n b e s t b y m e a n s o f te c h n iq u e s w h ic h m a k e
u se o f t h e ir e x p e r ie n c e s . T h e y a ls o h a v e p h y s ic a l lim ita tio n s
93
w h ic h m a k e i t d e s ir a b le to lo c a te c la s s e s c lo s e to t h e ir h o m e s ,
to o f f e r th e c la s s e s d u rin g d a y lig h t h o u rs , to ta k e in to c o n s id e r a
tio n t h e ir lim it a t io n s in c lim b in g s t a ir s , s ittin g f o r lo n g p e rio d s
on h a r d c h a ir s , e tc .
C o lle g e s n e e d to do m o r e to a c c o m m o d a te th e s p e c ia l
n e e d s o f th e a g e d i f th e y a r e to d r a w s ig n ific a n t n u m b e rs o f th e
a g e d b a c k to th e c o lle g e s — on c a m p u s o r o ff.
T h e l i t e r a t u r e d e a lin g w ith th e e d u c a tio n a l n e e d s o f th e
a g e d s h o w ed th a t th e r e a r e a n u m b e r o f a r e a s in w h ic h th e c o l
le g e s n e e d to p r o v id e o ffe r in g s . T h e r e is c o n s id e ra b le n e e d to
p r o v id e f o r m i d - c a r e e r and l a t e - c a r e e r c lin ic s and c o u n s e lin g
s e r v ic e s . T h e a g e d n e e d h e lp in p la n n in g a h e a d b e fo re th e y
b e c o m e r e t i r e d . P e r s o n s n e e d in fo r m a tio n a b o u t th e p ro c e s s o f
g ro w in g o ld and in d e v e lo p in g p e r s o n a l p h ilo s o p h ie s fo r g ro w in g
o ld . T h is is a s o m e w h a t d if f ic u lt a r e a to a p p ro a c h f o r th e
c o lle g e s b e c a u s e o f th e p ro b le m s in m a k in g p e rs o n s a w a re o f t h e ir
ow n n e e d s and a w a r e o f th e c o u rs e o ffe r in g s . C o o r d in a tio n w ith
u n io n s , e m p lo y e r s , and o th e r a p p r o p r ia te g ro u p s is n e c e s s a r y
to in s u r e s u c c e s s o f su ch p r o g r a m s .
F o r th e p e rs o n s w ho a r e a lr e a d y r e t ir e d o r v e r y c lo s e
to r e t ir e m e n t , th e r e a r e a n u m b e r o f o th e r a r e a s o f e d u c a tio n a l
n e e d . A g e d p e rs o n s n e e d c o u rs e s w h ic h w i l l h e lp th e m e n r ic h
and e x p a n d t h e ir h o r iz o n s , g iv e th e m in fo r m a t io n a b o u t S o c ia l
S e c u r it y and o th e r g o v e r n m e n ta l b e n e fits and h o w to a p p ly f o r
th e m , s e r v e to k e e p th e m in te r e s te d in p u b lic a f f a ir s and c u r r e n t
94
e v e n ts , h e lp p r o v id e n e e d e d in f o r m a tio n on f a m ily r e la tio n s ,
o p p o rtu n itie s f o r c o m m u n ity s e r v ic e , fin a n c ia l p la n n in g , e tc .
O n e a r e a o f p a r t ic u la r in t e r e s t to th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s
th e m s e lv e s is h e a lth . H e a lth is o f p r im e c o n c e rn to th o s e o v e r
s ix t y - f iv e y e a r s o f age and m u c h n e e d e d in fo r m a tio n c an be p r o
v id e d b y m e a n s o f c o u r s e w o r k , le c t u r e s , e tc .
W h ile s u b je c ts a p p r o p r ia te to a lim it e d p o p u la tio n — th e
a g e d — a p p e a r a d e q u a te to s tim u la te a n u m b e r o f c o u rs e o ffe r in g s
c o lle g e s m u s t a ls o r e m e m b e r th a t o th e r a r e a s a r e a ls o o f c o n
s id e r a b le in t e r e s t to th e a g e d . A r t s and c r a f t s , c u r r e n t e v e n ts ,
g o v e rn m e n t, c o n v e r s a tio n a l fo r e ig n la n g u a g e s , e tc . , a r e a l l
p r im e in t e r e s t a r e a s .
T h e lit e r a t u r e a ls o in d ic a te d a c o n s id e ra b le p o te n tia l
a u d ie n c e fo r c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s a m o n g th e a g e d p o p u la tio n . T h e
H e n d r ic k s o n and B a r n e s s tu d y fo u n d th a t a b o u t t h i r t y p e r c e n t o f
th o s e p e o p le o v e r s ix t y - f iv e p r e s e n t e x c e lle n t ta r g e ts f o r c o lle g e s
(5 5 ) In C a lif o r n ia th is w o u ld a m o u n t to s o m e 6 0 0 ,0 0 0 p e rs o n s .
O n e in t e r e s t in g a s p e c t o f e n la r g in g th e e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s
f o r a d u lts w a s th e fin d in g in th e J o h n s to n e and R iv e r a s tu d y th a t
as m o r e e d u c a tio n a l f a c ilit ie s a r e m a d e a v a ila b le , m o r e a d u lts
u se th e m . (1 3 )
T h e e x p e r ie n c e s o f c o lle g e s in th e e d u c a tio n o f the ag ed
a r e s o m e w h a t lim it e d in th e lit e r a t u r e b u t r e p o r ts do in d ic a te
th a t a n u m b e r o f c o lle g e s and u n iv e r s itie s th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n try
a r e w o r k in g in th is a r e a and th a t w h e n c o u rs e s and p r o g r a m s a r e
w e ll p r e p a r e d , th e y r e s u lt in c o n s id e ra b le s u c c e s s .
95
T h e l it e r a t u r e show s a n u m b e r o f p r o b le m a r e a s in
o ffe r in g e d u c a tio n to th e a g e d . T h e s e p r o b le m a r e a s , h o w e v e r ,
a p p e a r to be r a t h e r e a s ily r e m e d ie d . M o s t o f th e p ro b le m s c o n
c e r n th e lim it a t io n s o f ag ed p e rs o n s , e s p e c ia lly w ith r e g a r d to
su ch th in g s as a w k w a rd p h y s ic a l a r r a n g e m e n ts , u n s u ita b le s o c ia l
c o n d itio n s , n ig h t c la s s e s , in a c c e s s ib le r o o m s , to o d is ta n t lo c a
tio n s , p a r k in g p r o b le m s , e tc . T h e s e p ro b le m s c a n be s o lv e d
w ith o u t to o m u c h d if f ic u lt y . T h e m a jo r p r o b le m s e e m s to be in
a c q u a in tin g c o lle g e a d m in is t r a t o r s w ith th e p r o b le m s .
O n e p r o b le m n o t so e a s ily s o lv e d , is th e one o f a d e q u a te
p la n n in g , n o t o n ly f o r th e e d u c a tio n o f th e ag ed b u t fo r a d u lt
e d u c a tio n in g e n e r a l. W e ll p la n n e d o b je c tiv e s a r e n e c e s s a r y to
in s u r e th a t th e p r o g r a m s a r e t r u ly g o a l- f u lf illin g and n o t ju s t
m e e tin g t e m p o r a r y n e e d s in a h a p -h a z a r d fa s h io n . C h a p te r V
p r e s e n te d a r a t h e r e x te n s iv e c h e c k - lis t fo r c o lle g e s to fo llo w in
th is r e g a r d .
T h e l i t e r a t u r e a ls o in d ic a te d o th e r e d u c a tio n a l o p p o r tu n i
tie s a v a ila b le to th e ag ed in c lu d in g l i b r a r i e s , c h u rc h e s , and
v a r io u s p r iv a t e o r g a n iz a tio n s , am o n g o th e r s . C o o p e ra tio n o f the
c o lle g e s and th e o th e r in s titu tio n s o r o rg a n iz a tio n s p r o v id in g
e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s f o r th e ag ed is im p o r t a n t i f n o t a b s o
lu t e ly n e c e s s a r y .
T h e c o lle g e s
T h e fin d in g s o f th is s tu d y sh o w ed th a t s o m e t w e n t y - s ix
p e r c e n t o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia a r e n o w in v o lv e d
96
in th e o ffe r in g o f c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s fo r th e a g e d . A n e v e n
g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f c o lle g e s e x p re s s e d re c o g n itio n o f th e n e e d
fo r su ch p r o g r a m s . A t o t a l o f c lo s e to f o r t y p e r c e n t o f th e
c o lle g e s w e r e e it h e r o ffe r in g c la s s e s o r p la n n in g to o f fe r th e m .
I f a l l o f th e c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s r e c o g n iz in g th e n e e d f o r e x p a n d
in g in to th is a r e a do so, th e n s o m e s e v e n ty -fiv e p e r c e n t o f th e
c o lle g e s w o u ld be in v o lv e d .
C o lle g e s w e r e o ffe r in g c o u rs e s in th e a r e a o f p r e
r e t ir e m e n t e d u c a tio n , fin a n c e s and in c o m e ta x , h e a lth , e tc .
L a r g e s t o ffe r in g s w e r e in th e a r e a o f in c o m e ta x e s and e s ta te
p la n n in g , o ffe r in g s w h ic h c o u ld be r a t h e r e a s ily a d a p te d f r o m
o th e r c u r r e n t o ffe r in g s . C o u rs e s a im e d a t th e p r e - r e t i r e m e n t
g ro u p , w h ile v e r y im p o r ta n t, h ad th e g r e a te s t in s ta n c e o f f a ilu r e .
T h e c o lle g e s a ls o s e e m e d to be s o m e w h a t lim it e d in t h e ir o f f e r
in g s f o r th e a g e d , o fte n ig n o rin g the a g e d 's in t e r e s t in o th e r a r e a s
su ch as c u r r e n t e v e n ts , c o n v e r s a tio n a l la n g u a g e s , a r t s and c r a f t s ,
e tc .
C o lle g e s w e r e n o t u n ifo r m in t h e ir m e th o d s and p r o
c e d u r e s . W h ile m o s t c o lle g e s re c o g n iz e d th e n e e d to ch an g e th e
e n v ir o n m e n ta l c la s s r o o m s itu a tio n fo r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s , m o s t
c la s s e s w e r e n o t c h a n g ed f r o m th e n o r m a l a tm o s p h e r e . T h e
c o lle g e s n e e d to do m u c h m o r e in th is a r e a , p a r t ic u la r ly the
m o v in g o f c o lle g e c la s s e s to f a c ilit ie s m o r e c o n v e n ie n t to th e
a g e d .
97
T h e c o lle g e s a ls o w e r e i r r e g u l a r in t h e ir a p p o in tm e n t o f
r e t ir e d p e rs o n s to a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s . L e s s th a n h a lf o f th e
c o lle g e s o ffe r in g c la s s e s fo r th e ag ed a p p o in te d r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s
o f th e ag ed to a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s . H o w e v e r , fiv e o f th e s e v e n
c o lle g e s h a v in g th e la r g e s t p r o g r a m s f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s d id
s e le c t ag e d p e rs o n s to s e r v e on a d v is o r y c o m m itte e s . T h is s e e m s
to be a v e r y im p o r ta n t a r e a o f n e g le c t on th e p a r t o f th e c o lle g e s ,
p a r t ic u la r ly w h e n th e m a n p o w e r and e x p e r ie n c e a v a ila b le to th e
c o lle g e s f r o m th e r e t i r e d p o p u la tio n is c o n s id e re d .
T h e r e w a s a ls o c o n s id e ra b le v a r ia n c e in th e a p p o in tm e n t
i
o f a d m in is t r a t iv e and fa c u lty p e rs o n n e l to p o s itio n s o f s u p e r v is io n , j
c o o r d in a tio n an d d e v e lo p m e n t. C o lle g e s n e e d to p la c e r e s p o n s ib ility
f o r th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f p r o g r a m s and c o u rs e s fo r th e r e t ir e d a t an
a p p r o p r ia te a d m in is t r a tiv e le v e l to in s u r e a d e q u a te c o lle g e s u p p o rt
and th e y also , n e e d to s e le c t fa c u lty m e m b e r s to c a r r y o u t th e
c o o rd in a tio n , p la n n in g , e tc . , o f th e p r o g r a m s . M o r e c o n s id e ra tio n
n e e d s to be g iv e n to a d e q u a te f in a n c ia l and r e le a s e d tim e s u p p o rt.
C o lle g e s a r e c o o rd in a tin g to a lim it e d d e g re e w ith o th e r !
|
i
a g e n c ie s b u t m u c h m o r e c a n be done in th is a r e a . C o o rd in a tio n
w ith c o n c e rn e d p u b lic a g e n c ie s su ch as l i b r a r i e s , p a r k and j
r e c r e a t io n d is t r ic t s , h ig h s c h o o l d is t r ic t s , r e t ir e m e n t a s s o c ia tio n s , ;
e tc . , w o u ld s e e m v e r y v a lu a b le to th e p r o g r a m and f o r th e p r o te c tio n
a g a in s t un d u e o v e r la p o f p r o g r a m s b e tw e e n a g e n c ie s .
P u b lic it y a p p e a rs to be b a s ic a lly a d e q u a te . M o r e n eed s
to be d o n e , h o w e v e r , in la r g e r m e tr o p o lita n a r e a s w h e re th e s tu d y
98
s h o w ed r e t i r e d p e rs o n s h a v in g th e le a s t k n o w le d g e o f the
e d u c a tio n a l o p p o rtu n itie s a ro u n d th e m .
T h e a r e a o f g r e a te s t c o n c e rn fo r th e c o lle g e s is in the
a r e a o f p r o g r a m d e v e lo p m e n t. A d e q u a te c o lle g e c o m m itm e n t to
th e p r o g r a m , a d e q u a te th o u g h t g iv e n to th e r e la tio n s h ip o f th e
p r o g r a m to to ta l in s titu tio n a l g o a ls , in c lu s io n o f r e le v a n t p a r t ie s
in th e p o lic y m a k in g and m a n a g e m e n t o f th e p r o g r a m , h ig h le v e ls
o f s ta ff s e r v ic e , c o n d u c iv e le a r n in g s itu a tio n s , d e v e lo p m e n t o f
h ig h q u a lity le a d e r s and in s t r u c t o r s , a d e q u a te p r o m o tio n a l and
p u b lic r e la tio n s s e r v ic e s , and lo n g - t e r m c o m m itm e n t to th e
p r o g r a m a r e a l l e s s e n tia l to th e p la n n in g and c a r r y in g o u t o f
p r o g r a m s f o r th e a g e d . T o o o fte n c o lle g e s h a v e re s p o n d e d to an
im m e d ia te n e e d w ith o u t a d e q u a te ly r e la tin g th e n e e d to th e to ta l
g o a ls o f th e p r o g r a m . T h is is e s s e n tia l to in s u r e a c o o rd in a te d ,
c o n tin u o u s p r o g r a m w h ic h w i l l be o f r e a l b e n e fit to th e c o m m u n ity
th e c o lle g e s a r e tr y in g to s e r v e .
T h e ag e d
O f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s re s p o n d in g to th e q u e s tio n n a ire
(1 1 2 5 o u t o f 2 0 7 5 ), f o r t y - s i x p e r c e n t w e r e b e tw e e n age s ix t y - f iv e
and age s e v e n ty -o n e . T h ir t y - t w o p e r c e n t w e r e o v e r age s e v e n ty -
o n e , tw e n ty p e r c e n t b e tw e e n f if t y - f i v e and s ix t y - f o u r , and tw o
p e r c e n t w e r e u n d e r age f i f t y - f i v e . M e n c o n s titu te d t h i r t y - s i x
p e r c e n t o f th e s a m p le and w o m e n s ix t y - f o u r p e r c e n t. S o m e n in e t y -
tw o p e r c e n t o f th e re s p o n d e n ts w e r e r e t ir e d b u t tw e n ty -e ig h t p e r
c e n t s t i l l w o rk e d p a r t o r f u ll t im e .
99
T h e e d u c a tio n a l le v e l w a s h ig h , t h i r t y - f o u r p e r c e n t
h a v in g c o m p le te d a t le a s t one y e a r o f c o lle g e , and s e v e n ty -th r e e
p e r c e n t h a v in g c o m p le te d h ig h s c h o o l. In c o m e s w e r e a ls o
r e la t iv e ly h ig h , a lm o s t h a lf o f th e ag ed h a v in g in c o m e s o f $ 4 2 0 0
o r m o r e p e r y e a r .
T h e stu d y in d ic a te d m o s t o f th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s to be
a c tiv e in a c tiv it ie s o u ts id e th e h o m e . S e v e n ty -e ig h t p e r c e n t
p a r tic ip a te d on a r e g u la r b a s is in le is u r e tim e a c t iv it ie s o u ts id e
th e h o m e . S o m e f if t y - t w o p e r c e n t s a id th e y w e r e e n g a g e d a lr e a d y
in s o m e f o r m o f e d u c a tio n a l o r c u lt u r a l a c t iv it y o u ts id e th e h o m e .
F o r t y - t h r e e p e r c e n t had a tte n d e d an e d u c a tio n a l c la s s w ith in th e
la s t te n y e a r s .
T h e r e t ir e d w e re g e n e r a lly q u ite f a m i l i a r w ith t h e ir
e d u c a tio n a l s u rro u n d in g s . O v e r f if t y p e r c e n t k n e w o f e d u c a tio n a l
c la s s e s , c u lt u r a l and t r a v e l p r o g r a m s , c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e
c la s s e s , and p a r k and r e c r e a tio n d is t r ic t c la s s e s . A lm o s t
t h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f th e ag ed in d ic a te d th a t th e y h a d s e e n o r h ad
r e c e iv e d a lis t in g o f h ig h s c h o o l o r c o lle g e c la s s e s in t h e ir c o m
m u n ity w ith in th e la s t y e a r . A w a re n e s s d e c lin e d , h o w e v e r , in
th e la r g e r m e tr o p o lita n a r e a s .
T h e ag ed re s p o n d e n ts s e e m e d to k n o w w h a t th e y w a n te d
w h en i t c a m e to e d u c a tio n a l o ffe r in g s . T h e y re q u e s te d c la s s e s
th a t w o u ld o ffe r no c r e d it , a n u m b e r o f s u b je c ts d e a lin g w ith th e
p r o b le m s o f r e t ir e m e n t and a ls o s u b je c ts in th e a r e a s o f c u r r e n t
e v e n ts , c o n v e r s a tio n a l fo r e ig n la n g u a g e , a r ts and c r a f t s , e tc . T h e
100
c h o ic e s o f th e r e t ir e d sh o u ld be o f v a lu e to th e c o lle g e s in p la n n in g
fu tu r e p r o g r a m s .
T h is s tu d y in d ic a te d th a t a t le a s t t h i r t y - s i x p e r c e n t o f
th e r e t i r e d p e rs o n s s a m p le d w o u ld be l i k e ly to a tte n d c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e c la s s e s in t h e ir c o m m u n itie s i f th e r e w e r e c la s s e s o r
p r o g r a m s g e a r e d to t h e ir p a r t ic u la r n e e d s and in t e r e s t s . T h e
H e n d ric k s o n and B a rn e s s tu d y w h ic h in c lu d e d a r e p r e s e n ta tiv e
s a m p le o f th e e n t ir e r e t ir e d c o m m u n ity in one c it y , e s tim a te d th a t
a b o u t t h i r t y - t h r e e p e r c e n t o f th e r e t ir e d w e r e good p ro s p e c ts fo r
c o lle g e s and u n iv e r s it ie s . (5 5 )
P r o b le m a r e a s w h ic h w o u ld te n d to l i m i t th e a tte n d a n c e
o f th e a g e d in c lu d e d th e d iff ic u ltie s in a tte n d in g n ig h t c la s s e s ,
th e n e e d f o r m o r e c o n d u c iv e le a r n in g a tm o s p h e r e s , m o r e g ro u p
d is c u s s io n ty p e c la s s e s , d if f ic u lt y in re a c h in g c la s s ro o m s on
s ec o n d o r t h ir d f lo o r s , p a r k in g p r o b le m s , e tc .
T h e r e t i r e d g e n e r a lly f e e l t h e ir liv e s to be f u ll o f
a c t iv it y a lr e a d y and w h ile r e c o g n iz in g th e n e e d f o r ta k in g s o m e
c o lle g e c la s s e s , n e e d to be h e lp e d in m a k in g th e d e c is io n , m e a n in g i
i
th a t c o lle g e s n e e d to ta k e n o te th a t o ld e r p e rs o n s w i l l n o t a u to - !
i
m a t ic a lly ch an g e t h e ir ro u tin e s in o r d e r to e n r o ll in a c la s s . j
In s te a d , th e in fo r m a tio n r e le a s e d b y th e c o lle g e s , fo r e x a m p le ,
m u s t be a im e d a t c a u s in g th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n to b r e a k h is c u r r e n t
t im e - u s e p a tte r n . C o u rs e s o ffe r e d m u s t a ls o , t h e r e f o r e , be
t r u l y o f in t e r e s t an d v a lu e to th e r e t ir e d .
101
A n s w e r s to s p e c ific q u e s tio n s o f th e stu d y
In C h a p te r I a s e r ie s o f te n q u e s tio n s w a s p o s e d to in d ic a te
s o m e o f th e b a s ic in f o r m a t io n so u g h t b y th is s tu d y . B e lo w a r e th e
q u e s tio n s and th e a n s w e rs found th ro u g h th e stu d y :
C u r r e n t r o le o f th e c o lle g e s :
1. H o w m a n y c o lle g e s o ffe r s p e c ific c o u rs e s and p r o g r a m s
f o r r e t i r e d p e rs o n s ?
C u r r e n t ly in C a lif o r n ia , o f th e n in e ty -tw o c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e s in f u ll o p e r a tio n , t w e n ty - th r e e o ffe r e d s p e c ific
c o u rs e s o r p r o g r a m s f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s . F if t e e n o f
th e c o lle g e s n o t n o w o ffe r in g s u c h c la s s e s in d ic a te d
th a t th e y h a d su ch c la s s e s o r p r o g r a m s in th e p la n n in g
s ta g e .
2 . W h a t c la s s e s a r e m o s t c o m m o n ly o ffe r e d ?
T h e m o s t c o m m o n ly o ffe r e d c la s s e s s p e c if ic a lly fo r
r e t ir e d p e rs o n s in c lu d e d In c o m e T a x P r e p a r a t io n ,
P la n n in g Y o u r E s t a t e , P r o b le m s o f R e t ir e m e n t ,
P s y c h o lo g ic a l A s p e c ts o f R e t ir e m e n t , C h a lle n g e o f
M a t u r it y , H e a lth f o r S e n io r C it iz e n s .
3 . W h a t h a v e b e e n th e m a jo r p r o b le m s in th e o ffe r in g o f
c la s s e s f o r th e a g e d ?
T h e m a jo r p r o b le m s in c lu d e a d e q u a te lo c a l r e s e a r c h to
d is c o v e r th e n e e d s o f th e ag ed in e a c h c o lle g e a r e a ,
a d e q u a te in s t itu t io n a l p la n n in g , e s ta b lis h in g a p p r o p r ia te
c la s s r o o m e n v ir o n m e n ts , lo c a tin g c la s s e s c lo s e to th e
102
r e t i r e d , d if f ic u ltie s in t r a n s p o r ta t io n f o r th e a g e d and
c o m m u n ic a tin g w ith th e a p p r o p r ia te c lie n t e le .
4 . U n d e r w h a t e n v ir o n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s h a v e th e c la s s e s
b e e n o ffe r e d ?
W h ile m o s t o f th e c o lle g e s r e c o g n iz e d th e n e e d to change
th e e n v ir o n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s f o r c la s s e s a im e d a t
s e n io r c it iz e n s , m o s t c la s s e s w e r e s t i l l h e ld in t r a d i
tio n a l c la s s r o o m e n v ir o n m e n ts .
5. W h a t e x p e r ie n c e s and a d v ic e do th e c o lle g e s h a v e to s h a re
w ith o th e rs ?
T h e c o lle g e s o ffe r e d c o n s id e ra b le a d v ic e , b u t a ls o
in d ic a te d th e n e e d fo r m o r e s p e c ific r e s e a r c h and i n f o r
m a tio n . M o s t a d v ic e c o n c e rn e d th e p r o b le m a re a s
m e n tio n e d a b o v e , n e e d f o r d a y tim e c la s s e s , in f o r m a l
o ff-c a m p u s c la s s e s , in a d e q u a te th o u g h t and p la n n in g ,
e tc . A m o r e e x te n s iv e lis tin g w i l l be fo u n d a t th e end
o f C h a p te r I I I .
F u tu r e r o le o f th e c o lle g e s :
1. Is th e r e a d e q u a te in fo r m a tio n to in d ic a te a g r e a t e r r o le
f o r c o m m u n ity c o lle g e s in th e e d u c a tio n o f th e a g e d ?
B o th th e r e v ie w o f th e l it e r a t u r e and th e r e s u lts o f the
q u e s tio n n a ir e s e n t to r e t ir e d p e rs o n s th ro u g h o u t the
s ta te o f C a lif o r n ia in d ic a te a c o n s id e ra b le p o p u la tio n
o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s a r e good p ro s p e c ts f o r c o lle g e c la s s e s .
T h e lit e r a t u r e and r e s u lts o f th is s tu d y a ls o in d ic a te
103
th e r e is a c o n s id e ra b le n e e d f o r c o u rs e s c o v e rin g th e
n e ed s and in te r e s ts o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s .
2 . W h a t c la s s e s a r e b e s t f o r th e ag ed ?
E it h e r in d iv id u a l o r c o m b in a tio n s e m in a r - ty p e c la s s e s
a r e good and sh o u ld c o v e r in fo r m a t io n o f in t e r e s t to
ag ed p e rs o n s su ch as h e a lth , fin a n c e s , g o v e r n m e n ta l
b e n e fits , v a r io u s a s p e c ts o f a g in g , e tc . , b u t s h o u ld a ls o
in c lu d e o th e r in t e r e s t a r e a s su ch a.s c u r r e n t e v e n ts .
3 . W h a t ch an g es n e e d to be m a d e in th e c u r r e n t m e th o d s
and p r a c tic e s o f o ffe r in g c la s s e s to th e a g e d ?
M o r e p la n n in g and in s titu tio n a l c o m m itm e n t a r e n e c e s
s a r y . M o r e u se o f r e t ir e d p e rs o n s on a d v is o r y c o m
m itte e s is b o th d e s ir a b le and u s e fu l.
B e t t e r c o o p e ra tio n w ith m o r e a g e n c ie s is in th e p u b lic
in t e r e s t in a d d itio n to m a k in g th e fin d in g o f f a c ilit ie s ,
fa c u lt ie s , and c lie n te le m u c h e a s ie r f o r th e c o lle g e s .
T h e o ffe r in g o f c la s s e s to th e ag ed on a n o - c r e d it b a s is
is n e c e s s a r y .
4 . W h a t p r o c e d u r e s , p o lic ie s a n d /o r s te p s s h o u ld be
fo llo w e d in s e ttin g up a p r o g r a m fo r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s ?
A n e x te n s iv e lis tin g o f su ch p ro c e d u re s w i l l be fo u n d
a t th e end o f C h a p te r V .
5. H o w d o es th e e d u c a tio n f o r th e ag ed f i t in to o v e r a ll
in s titu tio n a l g o a ls ?
T h is is a q u e s tio n w h ic h m u s t be d e c id e d a t th e lo c a l
104
c o lle g e le v e l, b u t g iv e n th e id e a o f th e c o m m u n ity
c o lle g e and th e c o lle g e 's o b lig a tio n to s e rv e its v a rio u s
p u b lic s , i t w o u ld s e e m th a t e d u c a tio n _ fo r th e ag ed sh o u ld
be a n in t e g r a l p a r t o f th e o v e r a ll in s t itu t io n a l g o a ls . T h e
r e a l p r o b le m lie s in m a k in g th e r e la tio n s h ip c le a r to a ll
c o n c e rn e d , the a d m in is tr a tio n , th e fa c u lty , th e c la s s ifie d
s ta ff, and th e s tu d e n ts .
R e c o m m e n d a tio n s
T h e c o lle g e s
T h is s e c tio n w i l l be d iv id e d in to tw o a r e a s , P r a c t ic e s
and P r o c e d u r e s and C o u rs e O ffe r in g s .
P r a c t ic e s and p ro c e d u re s
1. A d e q u a te s ta ff tim e f o r a r t ic u la tio n , p la n n in g , e tc . ,
is n e c e s s a r y to in s u r e s u c c e s s and th e d e v e lo p m e n t
o f w e ll-c o n c e iv e d p r o g r a m s .
2 . A d e q u a te fin a n c e s a r e n e c e s s a r y f o r lo c a l r e s e a r c h ,
and th e h ir in g o f q u a lifie d s ta ff.
3 . T h e a p p o in tm e n t o f r e p r e s e n ta tiv e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s to
a p p r o p r ia te a d v is o r y c o m m itte e is h e lp fu l and im p o r t a n t .
4 . C o o p e ra tio n w ith o th e r p u b lic and c o m m u n ity a g e n c ie s
c a n a id in th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f p r o g r a m s and th e lo c a
tin g o f c o n v e n ie n t f a c ilit ie s f o r c la s s e s . F a c u lt y m a y
a ls o be r e c r u it e d in th is w a y . M o s t a v a ila b le and
p o p u la r a g e n c ie s f o r c o o p e ra tio n a r e th e lo c a l p a r k
and r e c r e a tio n d is t r ic t s , lo c a l r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s , and
105
n a tio n a l o r s ta te -w id e r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s su ch as th e
A A R P and th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g .
5. A c o lle g e c e r t if ic a t e d e m p lo y e e o f a d m in is tr a tiv e r a n k
sh o u ld h a v e th e r e s p o n s ib ilit y fo r w o rk in g and p la n n in g
in th is a r e a to in s u r e a d e q u a te c o lle g e s u p p o rt in a d d i
tio n to fa c u lty m e m b e r s to do th e n e c e s s a r y e v e r y d a y
w o r k an d c o o rd in a tio n n e c e s s a r y to a s u c c e s s fu l p r o g r a m .
6 . N e w s p a p e r and o th e r m e d ia c o v e ra g e and a d v e r tis e m e n t
o f r e t ir e m e n t p r o g r a m s is n e c e s s a r y fo r b a s ic c o v e ra g e
and s p e c ia l m a ilin g s w o u ld be o f c o n s id e ra b le u se w h en
m a d e d ir e c t ly to r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s and c o m m u n itie s
o r to u n io n and e m p lo y e r g ro u p s in th e c a s e o f p r e
r e t ir e m e n t c la s s e s .
7 . R e t ir e d p e rs o n s w a n t and n e e d e d u c a tio n a l c la s s e s b u t
a ls o c o n s id e r th e m s e lv e s q u ite b u s y . P u b lic it y n e e d s to
m a k e c la s s e s o ffe r e d sound in te r e s tin g and in v itin g as
w e ll as im p o r t a n t to r e t ir e d p e rs o n s .
8 . C la s s e s s h o u ld be o ffe r e d on a n o - c r e d it b a s is o r w ith
|
th e o p tio n o f ta k in g th e m f o r no c r e d it , p ro v id e d in th e !
l a t e r c a s e th a t th is o p tio n is w e ll p u b lic iz e d . O p e n J
en d ed c la s s e s w o u ld a ls o be h e lp fu l. i
9 . M a n y r e t i r e d p e rs o n s a r e o p e ra tin g on lim it e d b u d g e ts ;
t h e r e f o r e , i f fe e s a r e n o r m a lly c h a rg e d fo r c la s s e s ,
c o n s id e r a tio n sh o u ld be g iv e n to w a iv in g th e s e fe e s fo r
r e t i r e d p e r s o n s .
10. T h e c la s s e n v ir o n m e n t s h o u ld be o th e r th a n th a t o f a
r e g u la r c la s s r o o m . M o r e c o m fo r ta b le c h a ir s , in f o r m
a lit y , o p en d is c u s s io n s , n ic e s u rro u n d in g s , e tc . , a r e
im p o r t a n t to th e a p p r o p r ia te a tm o s p h e r e . R e t ir e d
p e rs o n s a r e d if f e r e n t and s h o u ld be tr e a te d d if f e r e n t ly
th a n th e r e g u la r a d u lt s tu d e n t p o p u la tio n .
11 . C o n s id e r a b le a tte n tio n m u s t be g iv e n to tr a n s p o r ta tio n
and r e la t e d c o n d itio n s . C la s s e s sh o u ld be o ffe r e d as
c lo s e as p o s s ib le to w h e re th e r e t ir e d p e rs o n s a r e liv in g ,
w ith a d e q u a te p a r k in g o r p u b lic tr a n s p o r ta tio n a v a ila b le .
B u ild in g s s h o u ld be e a s ily e n te r e d b y p e rs o n s w ith
m o b ilit y p ro b le m s in c lu d in g w h e e lc h a ir s , c r u tc h e s , e tc .
R o o m s s h o u ld be lo c a te d on g ro u n d flo o r s o r c lo s e to
e le v a t o r s . L o n g w a lk s a c ro s s c a m p u s o r up a f lig h t
o f s t a ir s w i l l be v e r y d is c o u ra g in g to a g e d p e rs o n s .
12. W h e n e v e r p o s s ib le , c la s s e s sh o u ld be h e ld d u rin g d a y
lig h t h o u r s , p r e f e r a b ly in th e a fte rn o o n . M o r n in g w o u ld
be a s e c o n d c h o ic e w ith e v e n in g a p o o r t h ir d . D a r k n e s s
I
p r e s e n ts m a n y p ro b le m s to o ld e r p e rs o n s , e s p e c ia lly J
th o s e w ith im p a ir e d s ig h t and h e a r in g as w e ll as th o s e |
I
w ith t r a n s p o r ta tio n p r o b le m s . M a n y o ld e r p e rs o n s I
I
s im p ly r e fu s e to go o u t a t n ig h t.
13 . O n e - , t w o - o r t h r e e - d a y s e s s io n s w o u ld be p r o g r e s s iv e ly
m o r e d if f ic u lt f o r ag ed p e rs o n s . O n e -d a y e v e n ts a r e
fe a s ib le i f a d e q u a te p la n n in g is g iv e n to c o m fo r ta b le
s e a tin g , fr e q u e n t b r e a k s , c o ffe e and te a , e tc .
107
14. F a c u lt y m e m b e r s sh o u ld be c a r e f u lly s e le c te d f o r t h e ir
a b ilit y an d f a c ilit y f o r d e a lin g w ith o ld e r p e rs o n s .
T h e ag e d in d ic a te d r e s e n tm e n t a t h a v in g le s s - t h a n -
q u a lifie d fa c u lty and a t h a v in g young te a c h e r s t e l l th e m
w h a t i t fe e ls lik e to be o ld .
15. T h e r e a r e m a n y v e r y w e ll e d u c a te d and w e ll q u a lifie d
p e rs o n s in th e r e t ir e d r a n k s . T h e C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity
C o lle g e s as w e ll as o th e r p u b lic a g e n c ie s co u ld w e ll
m a k e s ig n ific a n t u se o f t h e ir fr e e tim e and d e s ir e to
s e r v e . C o n s id e r a tio n o f th is a s p e c t co u ld a id th e c o lle g e s
a g r e a t d e a l in th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f p r o g r a m s fo r th e a g e d .
16. C o o p e ra tio n w ith su ch e d u c a tio n a lly o r ie n te d r e t ir e m e n t
g ro u p s su ch as th e A A R P and its In s titu te o f L if e t im e
L e a r n in g c o u ld be o f c o n s id e ra b le v a lu e in th e p la n n in g
and o ffe r in g o f c la s s e s .
17. C o lle g e s s h o u ld in v e s tig a te th e a v a ila b ilit y o f f e d e r a l
fu n d s th ro u g h th e A d m in is tr a tio n on A g in g o f the
D e p a r tm e n t o f H e a lth , E d u c a tio n and W e lf a r e . M o n ie s
a r e g e n e r a lly a v a ila b le fo r d e v e lo p m e n ta l and in n o v a tiv e
p r o g r a m s .
C o u rs e o ffe r in g s
C o lle g e s h a v e h a d th e te n d e n c y to ta k e s o m e r e g u la r
c la s s e s and m a k e s lig h t c h an g es in th e m and o ffe r th e m as
c la s s e s f o r th e a g e d . T h e c o lle g e s a ls o h a v e t r ie d to go in to th e
108
a r e a o f p r e - r e t i r e m e n t e d u c a tio n . T h e fo llo w in g re c o m m e n d a tio n s
b e g in w ith th e s e c o n s id e ra tio n s :
1. I t c a n be a good ta c tic to ta k e r e g u la r c o u rs e s and change
th e e n v ir o n m e n t, e tc . , and c r e a te s p e c ia l c la s s e s fo r
th e a g e d . C a r e m u s t be ta k e n , h o w e v e r , th a t a d e q u a te
p la n n in g show s th a t th e s e a r e th e c o u rs e a r e a s m o s t
n e e d e d b y th e a g e d . A w a re n e s s o f th e n e e d to ch an g e the
e n v ir o n m e n t and m e th o d o f te a c h in g on th e p a r t o f the
in s t r u c t o r s is n e c e s s a r y .
2 . P r e - r e t i r e m e n t e d u c a tio n is v it a lly n e e d e d b u t a d if f ic u lt
a r e a to r e c e iv e a d e q u a te e n r o llm e n ts . T h e c lie n te le f o r
th is ty p e o f c la s s is d if f ic u lt to re a c h . C o o rd in a tio n
w ith u n io n s and m a n a g e m e n t g ro u p s is a n e c e s s ity .
3 . T h is s tu d y h as show n th a t r e t ir e d p e rs o n s h a v e s o m e w h a t
d if f e r e n t id e a s ab o u t the c la s s e s th e y w a n t and n e e d th a n
do th e c o lle g e s . A d e q u a te p la n n in g on th e p a r t o f th e
c o lle g e s m u s t ta k e th e s e p r e fe r e n c e s in to a c c o u n t.
4 . B e lo w a r e lis te d th e m o s t p o p u la r c o u rs e s as c h o s e n b y
th e r e t i r e d p e rs o n s in th is s tu d y :
H e a lth f o r S e n io r C itiz e n s
S o c ia l S e c u r ity and O th e r B e n e fits fo r th e A g e d
H o w to E n jo y R e t ir e m e n t
C o n s u m e r C o n c e rn s o f R e t ir e d P e rs o n s
L iv in g W ith in Y o u r In c o m e
P s y c h o lo g ic a l A s p e c ts o f A g in g
C o n v e r s a tio n a l S p a n is h
In c o m e T a x P r e p a r a t io n
L iv in g f o r L a t e r L if e
T r a in in g f o r C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e
A r t s an d C r a fts
T h e L a w and Y o u
5. S e m in a r c la s s e s c o v e rin g v a r io u s a s p e c ts o f th e ab o ve
s u b je c ts a r e a ls o a p p r o p r ia te . C u lt u r a l and in fo r m a tio n a l
c o u rs e s in v o lv in g f ie ld t r ip s to v a r io u s lo c a tio n s , e tc . ,
a r e a ls o v e r y p o p u la r w ith th e a g e d .
G e n e r a l re c o m m e n d a tio n s
T h is s e c tio n w i l l be d iv id e d in to tw o a r e a s , n e e d s o f
th e r e t i r e d and n e e d s f o r f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h .
N e e d s o f th e r e t i r e d
1. M u c h g r e a t e r c o n s id e ra tio n o f th e n e e d s o f th e r e t ir e d
as w e ll as th e v a s t re s o u r c e o f o u ts ta n d in g and v a rio u s
a b ilit ie s p r e s e n t in the r e t ir e d p o p u la tio n m u s t be g iv e n
m o r e c o n s id e ra tio n b y th e p u b lic and its r e p r e s e n ta tiv e
p u b lic a g e n c ie s .
2 . In f o r m a t io n on a g in g in te n d e d to d is p e l so m e o f the
n e g a tiv e fa ls e b e lie fs p r e s e n t in to d a y 's p o p u la tio n sh o u ld
be p r o v id e d b y p u b lic a g e n c ie s , th e p r e s s , and
e d u c a tio n a l in s titu tio n s .
110
3 . C o o r d in a tio n o f c o u rs e s and p r o g r a m s in r e t ir e m e n t -
n e e d a r e a s as w e ll as g e ro n to lo g y tr a in in g and r e s e a r c h
is n e e d e d b e tw e e n th e c o lle g e s and s c h o o ls and th e la r g e
r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s in th e U n ite d S ta te s . M u c h m u tu a l
s a tis fa c tio n and b e n e fit can r e s u lt .
4 . I t is a p p a re n t th a t th e r e t ir e d a r e in c r e a s in g ly b e c o m
in g a fo r c e to be d e a lt w ith . M a n y a s p e c ts o f t h e ir n e e d s ,
d e s ir e s , a b ilit ie s to c o n trib u te to t h e ir c o m m u n itie s ,
e tc . , s t i l l n e e d f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h .
N e e d s fo r f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h
1. T h e a r e a o f the c o lle g e r o le in g e ro n to lo g y p r o g r a m s
in v o lv in g th e t r a in in g o f p e rs o n s to c a re f o r th e ag ed
is a v it a l and n e c e s s a r y a r e a o f r e s e a r c h .
2 . M o r e in fo r m a tio n is n e e d e d on th e r o le o f a d u lt s c h o o ls ,
th e s ta te c o lle g e s and th e u n iv e r s it ie s in th e e d u c a tio n
o f th e a g e d .
3 . R e s e a r c h w o u ld be im p o r ta n t in to th e r o le o f o th e r
p u b lic a g e n c ie s su ch as l i b r a r i e s , p a r k and r e c r e a tio n
d is t r ic t s , an d s u c h o rg a n iz a tio n s as th e Y M C A /Y W C A ,
e tc .
4 . T h e r o le o f r e t ir e m e n t g ro u p s th e m s e lv e s in the d e v e lo p
m e n t and o ffe r in g o f e d u c a tio n a l p r o g r a m s f o r th e ag ed
is im p o r t a n t .
I l l
5 . T h e s e le c tio n and tr a in in g o f te a c h e rs fo r th e ag ed w i l l
h a v e c o n s id e ra b le p r a c t ic a l a p p lic a tio n as e d u c a tio n f o r
th e ag e d in c re a s e s in th e s c h o o ls and c o lle g e s .
A P P E N D I C E S
' i
112
A P P E N D IX A
L IS T O F C O L L E G E S P A R T IC IP A T IN G IN S T U D Y
113
114
C A L IF O R N IA C O M M U N IT Y C O L L E G E S
P A R T IC IP A T IN G I N S T U D Y
1. C o lle g e o f A la m e d a
2 . A m e r ic a n R iv e r C o lle g e
3. A n te lo p e V a lle y C o lle g e
4 . B a k e r s f ie ld C o lle g e
5. B a r s to w C o lle g e
6 . B u tte C o m m u n ity C o lle g e
7 . C a b r illo C o lle g e
8 . C a n a d a C o lle g e
9. C o lle g e o f th e C a n y o n s
10. C e r r it o s C o lle g e
11. C h a b o t C o lle g e
12. C h a ffe y C o m m u n ity
C o lle g e
13. C it r u s C o lle g e
14. C o lu m b ia J u n io r C o lle g e
15. C o m p to n C o m m u n ity
C o lle g e
16. C o n tr a C o s ta C o lle g e
17. C o n s u m n e s R iv e r C o lle g e
18. C u e s ta C o lle g e
19. D e A n z a C o lle g e
2 0 . C o lle g e o f th e D e s e r t
2 1 . D ia b lo V a lle y C o lle g e
2 2 . E a s t L o s A n g e le s C o lle g e
2 3 . E l C a m in o C o lle g e
2 4 . F e a t h e r R iv e r C o lle g e
2 5 . F o o t h ill C o lle g e
2 6 . F r e s n o C it y C o lle g e
2 7 . F u lle r t o n J u n io r C o lle g e
2 8 . G a v ila n C o lle g e
2 9 .
G le n d a le C o lle g e
3 0 . G ro s s m o n t C o lle g e
3 1 . A lla n H a n c o c k C o lle g e
3 2 . H a r t n e ll C o lle g e
3 3 . Im p e r i a l V a lle y J u n io r
C o lle g e
3 4 . L a n e y C o lle g e
3 5 . L a s s e n C o lle g e
3 6 . L o s A n g e le s C it y C o lle g e
3 7 . L o s A n g e le s H a r b o r
C o lle g e
CO
CO
L o s A n g e le s P ie r c e
C o lle g e
3 9 . L o s A n g e le s S o u th w e s t
C o lle g e
4 0 . L o s A n g e le s T r a d e - 6 2 .
115
S a d d le b a c k C o lle g e
4 1 .
T e c h n ic a l C o lle g e
L o s A n g e le s V a lle y
6 3 . S an B e r n a r d in o V a lle y
C o lle g e
4 2 .
4 3 .
4 4 .
4 5 .
C o lle g e
C o lle g e o f M a r in
M e r c e d C o lle g e
M e r r i t t C o lle g e
M ir c o s t a C o lle g e
6 4 .
6 5 .
6 6 .
6 7 .
S an D ie g o C it y C o lle g e
S an D ie g o E v e n in g C o lle g e
S an D ie g o M e s a C o lle g e
C it y C o lle g e o f S a n F r a n
c is c o
4 6 . M o d e s to J u n io r C o lle g e 6 8 . S an J o a q u in D e lt a C o m
4 7 . M o n te r e y P e n in s u la
C o lle g e 6 9 .
m u n ity C o lle g e
S an J o s e C it y C o lle g e
4 8 . M o o r p a r k C o lle g e 7 0 . C o lle g e o f S an M a te o
4 9 . M t . S an A n to n io C o lle g e 7 1 . S a n ta A n a C o lle g e
50. M t . S an J a c in to C o lle g e 7 2 . S a n ta B a r b a r a C it y C o lle g e
5 1 . N a p a C o lle g e 7 3 . S a n ta M o n ic a C o lle g e
5 2 . O ra n g e C o a s t J u n io r 7 4 . S a n ta R o s a J u n io r C o lle g e
53.
C o lle g e
P o lo m a r C o m m u n ity
C o lle g e
7 5 .
7 6 .
C o lle g e o f th e S e q u o ia s
S h a s ta C o lle g e
54. P a lo V e r d e C o lle g e 7 7 . S i e r r a C o lle g e
55 . P a s a d e n a C it y C o lle g e 7 8 . C o lle g e o f th e S is k y o u s
5 6 . P o r t e r v i l l e C o lle g e
7 9 . S k y lin e C o lle g e
57 . C o lle g e o f th e R e d w o o d s
•
o
00
S o la n o C o lle g e
5 8 . R e e d le y C o lle g e 8 1 . S o u th w e s te rn C o lle g e
5 9 . R io H o n d o C o lle g e 8 2 . T a f t C o lle g e
6 0 . R iv e r s id e C it y C o lle g e 8 3 . V e n t u r a C o lle g e
6 1 . S a c ra m e n to C it y C o lle g e 8 4 . V ic t o r V a lle y C o lle g e
116
8 5 . W e s t H ills C o lle g e
8 6 . W e s t V a lle y C o lle g e
8 8 . Y u b a C o lle g e
8 9 . C y p re s s C o lle g e
A P P E N D IX B
C O Y E R L E T T E R S A N D Q U E S T IO N N A IR E S E N T T O
T H E C O M M U N IT Y C O L L E G E S O F C A L IF O R N IA
117
118
B A K E R S F IE L D C O L L E G E
1801 P a n o r a m a D r iv e
B a k e r s f ie ld , C a lif o r n ia 9 3 3 0 5
(8 0 5 ) 8 7 1 -7 1 2 0
J a n u a ry 10, 1972
D e a r C o lle a g u e ,
Y e s a n o th e r q u e s tio n n a ir e ! B u t ta k e h e a r t. T h is one
s h o u ld n 't ta k e v e r y lo n g to f i l l ou t and th e r e s u lts h o p e fu lly w i l l be
v e r y b e n e f ic ia l to c o m m u n ity c o lle g e e d u c a tio n in C a lif o r n ia . I t
c o n c e rn s c la s s e s and p r o g r a m s o ffe r e d s p e c ific a lly f o r r e t ir e d
p e rs o n s in th e C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity C o lle g e s .
T h is p r o je c t is e n d o rs e d b y th e C a lif o r n ia C o m m u n ity C o lle g e
C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n A s s o c ia tio n ~ (C C C C E A ) - see a tta c h e d le t t e r -
and th e A m e r ic a n A s s o c ia tio n o f R e t ir e d P e r s o n s ( A A R P ) . Its
s p e c ific p u rp o s e is f o r m y d o c to r a l d is s e r ta tio n in H ig h e r E d u c a
tio n a t th e U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn C a lif o r n ia , b u t I a ls o f i r m l y
b e lie v e th a t th is is an a r e a lo n g n e g le c te d b y r e s e a r c h e r s . A s a
C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n a d m in is t r a t o r I kn o w I h a v e b e e n f r u s t r a te d by
la c k o f a p p r o p r ia te in f o r m a tio n in th is a r e a .
T h e r e a r e n o w a p p r o x im a te ly tw o m illio n r e t ir e d p e rs o n s in
C a lif o r n ia . T h e y h a v e g r e a t n e e d s fo r e d u c a tio n a l s e r v ic e s . T h is
p r o je c t is a ls o s u r v e y in g r e t ir e d p e rs o n s d ir e c t ly fo r t h e ir v ie w s
and d e s ir e s . P o l i t i c a l l y , r e t ir e d p e rs o n s h a v e te n d e d to vo te
a g a in s t ta x in c r e a s e s and bond is s u e s f o r o b vio u s f in a n c ia l re a s o n s .
T h e r e is a ls o in d ic a tio n th a t good p u b lic r e la tio n s - p a r t ic u la r ly
th ro u g h c o u rs e s and p r o g r a m s fo r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s - m a y g r e a tly
re d u c e o r e lim in a t e th is g e n e r a lly n e g a tiv e v o te . B u t w h a t c o u rs e s
do w e o ffe r ? H o w do w e o ffe r th e m ? H o w do w e c o n ta c t the
c lie n t e le ? T h is r e s e a r c h is d e s ig n e d to h e lp a n s w e r th e s e q u e s
tio n s .
T h e r e f o r e , I b e lie v e th a t fo r e d u c a tio n a l as w e ll as p o lit ic a l
r e a s o n s , th is ty p e o f s tu d y can be v e r y im p o r ta n t. A l l c o lle g e s
r e tu r n in g th e a tta c h e d q u e s tio n n a ir e , c o m p le te d as a p p r o p r ia te to
t h e ir s itu a tio n , w i l l r e c e iv e th e b a s ic r e s u lts o f th is r e s e a r c h to
u se in b e tte r in g t h e ir o w n e d u c a tio n a l p r o g r a m s .
I f y o u ta k e a fe w m in u te s now to a n s w e r th e q u e s tio n n a ire i t
w i l l be o u t o f y o u r w a y . M a n y th a n k s f o r ta k in g th e tim e to h e lp .
B e s t R e g a r d s ,
C h a r le s R . C a r ls o n
A s s o c ia te D e a n
C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n
119
California Community College
CONTINUING EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Mr. Charles R. Carlson
Associate Dean, Continuing Education
Bakersfield College
1801 Panorama Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93305
Dear Mr. Carlson:
Your proposed study regarding California Community College
Continuing Education classes and programs especially designed for
retired persons has the endorsement of the California Community
College Continuing Education Association.
Your research in this area should help to provide information
of value to school administrators responsible for planning adult
continuing education. We will be anxious to have your report to the
Association on your findings.
January 3, 1972
Sincerely
Russel L. Lewis
President, CCCCEA
RLL:CG
120
PAGE 1
NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING QUESTIONNAIRE___________________________________________________
TITLE___________________________________________________
1. DOES YOUR COLLEGE OFFER ANY CLASSES OR PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR RETIRED PERSONS (INCLUDING RETIRE
MENT PLANNING)?
YES NO____
2. HAS YOUR COLLEGE OFFERED, BUT DISCONTINUED IN RECENT YEARS, SUCH CUSSES OR PROGRAMS FOR RETIRED
PERSONS?
YES NO____
3. DOES YOUR COLLEGE HAVE ANY CUSSES OR PROGRAMS FOR RETIRED PERSONS IN THE PUNNING STAGE?
YES NO____
IF YOUR ANSWER WAS NO TO ALL OF THE FIRST THREE QUESTIONS, PLEASE SKIP TO PAGE 3.
IF YOUR ANSWER WAS YES TO ANY OF THE FIRST THREE QUESTIONS, PLEASE COMPLETE ALL PARTS OF QUESTIONNAIRE.
CONTINUE:
4. DO YOU SPECIFICALLY SELECT RETIRED PERSONS FOR ANY ADVISORY COMMITTEE(S)?
YES _____ NO IF YES, WHICH:
5. DO YOU HAVE ANY FACULTY OR ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL SPECIFICALLY WORKING AMD PUNNING IN THIS AREA?
YES NO____
IF YES, PLEASE GIVE NAMES AND DEPARTMENT OR TITLE:
6. DO YOU COOPERATE WITH ANY OTHER AGENCY IN THE OFFERING OF CLASSES OR PROGRAMS FOR RETIRED PERSONS?
YES _____ NO IF YES, WHICH:
7. WHAT MEANS DO YOU USE TO REACH YOUR AREA RESIDENTS WITH A SCHEDULE OF CUSSES OR SIMIUR LISTING OF
YOUR OFFERINGS?
8. HAVE YOU EVER SENT OR DO YOU NOW SEND MATERIALS ADVERTISING YOUR OFFERING DIRECTLY TO RETIREMENT GROUPS
OR COMMUNITIES?
YES NO IF YES, PLEASE EXPUIN:
9. IN YOUR CLASSES FOR RETIRED PERSONS, HAVE YOU MADE ANY EFFORT TO CHANGE THE NORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL (CLASS
ROOM) SITUATION TO SOMETHING MORE INFORMAL OR COMFORTABLE?
YES _____ NO IF YES, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
CONTINUE ON TO PAGE 2
PAGE 2
B E L C H A R E LISTED A NUffiER O F C O U R S E S G E A R E D ES P E CI A LLY T O T H E N E E D S O F R E T IR E D P E R S O N S . IF Y O U CF FE R(E D) O R WILL O F F E R A C O U R S E WICH C L O S E L Y R E S E M B L E S A N Y O F THE S E , P L E A S E S O
IfCICATE ( / ) . P L E A S E A N S W E R O T H E R Q U E S T IO N S F O R E A C H C O U R S E S O M A R K E D . P L E A S E A D D AW C O U R S B Y O U O F F E R WICH A R E N O T IN C L U D E D IN THIS LIST.
- INDICATE N L M 3 E R O F D A Y S O R W E E K S IF A S H O R T C O U R S E -----------------
N A M E O F C O U R S E C U R R E N T O F F E R I N G
(how often?)
C H A L L E N G E O F M A T U R I T Y ( )_________________________
P L A N N IN G Y O U R E S T A T E ( )_________________________
P R O B L E M S O F R E T I R E M E N T ( )________ _______________
H E A L T H F O R S E N IO R CITIZENS ( )____ _______________
LIVING L N L A T E R LIFE ( )______________________ _ _
LIVING WTIHIN Y O U R I N C O M E ( )_____ _______________
P S Y C H O L O G I C A L A S P E C T S O F A G IN G ( )_ _ _______________
H O W T O E N J O T R E T I R E M E N T ( ) _______________
S OCI AL S E C U R IT Y A M) O T H E R
BE NE F IT S F O R T H E A G E D ( )_______________________
TRAINING F O R COWJNITY S E R V IC E ( )_ _ _______________
P R E P A R IN G F O R R E T I R E M E N T ( ) _______________
I N C O M E T A X P R E P A R A T I O N ( )______ _______________
T H E E L D E R L Y A S C O N S U M E R S ( )______ _______________
P A S T O F F E R I N G F U T U R E O F F E R I N G EMTOLUtNT G R A D E D O R UNITS R E G U L A R IF DI S C O N T IN U E D ,
(la s t date o ffe re d ) (s ta rtin g date) (A ctu a l o r a n t.) U N G R A D E D ? O F F E R E D C L A S S R O O M ? R E A S O N : _________
D O Y O U O F F E R AW R E G U L A R C O U R S E IN SO CIA L SC IEN C E, LITERATURE, A R T S A M) C R A F T S , ETC., IN A SPECIAL S E C T IO N J U S T F O R 0U)E R P E R S O N S ( O R A T LE A S T SPECIFICALLY A IM E D T O THEIR N E E D S A M )
INTERESTS)?
YES NO IF YES, P L E A S E D ES C R IB E :
C O N T I N U E O N T O P A G E 3
121
122
PAGE 3
FINALLY, WE ARE TRYING TO DISCOVER WHAT TYPES OF CLASSES AND PROGRAMS OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES SHOULD BE
OFFERING FOR RETIRED PERSONS (IF ANY), PLEASE GIVE BELOW ANY EXPERIENCES, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, OBSERVATIONS,
ETC., THAT MAY HELP IN THIS SEARCH. WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED PLEASE PUT THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE RETURN EN
VELOPE AND MAIL. THANK YOU. RESULTS OF THIS RESEARCH WILL BE SENT TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
A P P E N D IX C
C O V E R L E T T E R S A N D Q U E S T IO N N A IR E S E N T T O
R E T IR E D P E R S O N S I N C A L IF O R N IA
123
124
The Institutes of Lifetime Learning
1346 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Wuhlngton, D.C. 20036
210 Lonf Beech Boulevard, Lon( Beech, Cellfomle 00802
(202) 332-7841
(213) 432-8781
BERNARD R. NASH, E n e u U n Dirac tor RUTH O. LANA, Dirac tor, Servian LEROY E. HIXSON, D un
Please reply to:
Long Beach, Calif
January 24, 1972
Dear AARP Member:
Attached is a Questionnaire which we believe is of great
importance. The California Community Colleges, in cooper
ation with the AARP and the Institute of Lifetime Learning,
are interested in finding out how we can serve your edu
cational needs better. Your answers to this Questionnaire
could well effect local offerings in your area.
The information in this Questionnaire will be confidential
and information released will refer only to groups of people
and not to individuals. Therefore, you need have no fear
that your answers will be identified directly with you. In
fact, you are asked not to put your name or any other iden
tifying information on the Questionnaire.
This research is being carried out with the cooperation of
local Chapters, the AARP, the Institute of Lifetime Learning,
and the California Community College Continuing Education
Association.
The Questionnaire may look long at first glance, but it is
written in capital letters and double or triple spaced for
your reading convenience, which makes it look longer than it
otherwise would.
Be assured that your time and effort is for a worthwhile
endeavor and is much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Institute of Lifetime Learning
Charles R. Carlson
Associate Dean
Continuing Education
Bakersfield'College
Enel
m iN riT U R o r
u rn iJ iia **
, NAT IONAL RE TIRED TEACHERS A S S O C I A T I O N
A Service of AME RI CA N AS S OCI AT I ON OF RETI RED PERSONS
NATIONAL TEACHERS A S S O C I A T I O N
125
Q U E S T IO N N A IR E
N o t e : P le a s e do n o t p u t a n y n a m e o r o th e r id e n tific a tio n on th is
p a p e r . Y o u r a n s w e rs w i l l be h e ld in s t r ic t e s t c o n fid e n c e
an d r e s u lts w i l l be u s e d and id e n tifie d o n ly as th e y p e r ta in
to g ro u p s o f p e o p le .
D ir e c t io n s : P le a s e r e a d e a c h q u e s tio n c a r e f u lly and c o m p le te ly .
U s e a c h e c k m a r k ( / ) to in d ic a te y o u r a n s w e r s .
1. A g e : a) u n d e r 55
b) 55 - 64
c)
65 - 71
d)
72 an d o v e r
2 . S e x : a) m a le
b) fe m a le
3 . R e t ir e m e n t : A r e y o u n o w r e t ir e d ?
a) ________ y e s
b) ________ no
D o y o u w o r k ?
a) ________ no
b) y e s , p a r t tim e
c) y e s , f u ll tim e
4 . E d u c a tio n : W h a t w a s th e la s t g ra d e in s c h o o l yo u c o m p le te d ?
( c ir c le th e n u m b e r)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
C o lle g e : 1 2 3 4
G ra d u a te s tu d y : 1 2 3 4
126
5. In c o m e : P le a s e in d ic a te y o u r in c o m e p e r m o n th (c o n fid e n tia l)
a) le s s th a n $ 150
b)
b e tw e e n $ 1 5 1 and $ 2 5 0
c)
b e tw e e n $ 2 5 1 and $ 3 7 5
d)
b e tw e e n $ 3 7 6 and $ 5 0 0
e)
o v e r $ 5 0 0
6 . L e is u r e A c t iv it ie s : D o yo u p a r tic ip a t e on a r e g u la r b a s is in
a n y f o r m o f le is u r e (n o n -w o rk ) a c t iv it y
o u ts id e th e h o m e ? (in c lu d in g c h u rc h
a c t iv itie s )
a) yes
b)
no
I f y e s , h o w o fte n do yo u le a v e y o u r h o m e fo r le is u r e
a c t iv it ie s ?
a) m o r e th a n once a w e e k
b) o nce a w e e k
c)
tw ic e a m o n th
d)
on ce a m o n th
e) le s s th a n on ce a m o n th
7. E d u c a tio n a l A c t iv it ie s : D o y o u e n g a g e in a n y e d u c a tio n a l o r
c u lt u r a l a c t iv it ie s (a tte n d a d u lt e d u c a
tio n c la s s e s , ta k e m u s ic le s s o n s ,
a tte n d c o n c e r ts , e t c . ) ?
a) yes
b) no
I f y e s , p le a s e lis t :
127
8 . E d u c a tio n a l S u rro u n d in g s : T o y o u r k n o w le d g e , a r e th e r e
e d u c a tio n a l a c tiv it ie s a v a ila b le to
yo u _in y o u r c o m m u n ity ?
a) ________ ye s
b) ________ no
I f y e s , p le a s e in d ic a te ty p e : (c h e c k as m a n y as
a p p r o p r ia te )
a) ________ h ig h s c h o o l a d u lt c la s s e s
b) ________ c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e c la s s e s
c) ________ In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g c la s s e s
d) ________ p a r k and r e c r e a tio n d is t r ic t c la s s e s
e) ________ Y M C A /Y W C A c la s s e s
f) ________ o th e r c la s s e s - p le a s e in d ic a te s p o n s o r:
g) ________ c o n c e rts
h) ________ fo r u m s and d e b a te s - p le a s e in d ic a te
s p o n s o r(s ): ______________________________
i) ________ c u lt u r a l and t r a v e l p r o g r a m s
9 . E d u c a tio n a l A tte n d a n c e :
H a v e y o u a tte n d e d an a d u lt h ig h s c h o o l, c o m m u n ity /
ju n io r c o lle g e , In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g c la s s
o r c la s s e s w ith in th e la s t te n y e a r s ?
a) _________ ye s
b) _________no
I f y e s , p le a s e in d ic a te c la s s (e s ) a tte n d e d and a g e n c y
o ffe r in g e a c h c la s s :
128
1 0 . E d u c a tio n a l C o m m u n ic a tio n s :
H a v e y o u r e c e n t ly r e c e iv e d o r s e e n (in th e la s t y e a r )
a n y lis t in g o f h ig h s c h o o l o r c o lle g e c la s s e s in y o u r
c o m m u n ity ?
a ) ye s
b) _________no
I f y e s , p le a s e d e s c r i b e : __________________________________
T o y o u r k n o w le d g e , a r e th e r e a n y c la s s e s o r e d u c a tio n a l
p r o g r a m s e s p e c ia lly f o r r e t ir e d p e rs o n s o ffe r e d in y o u r
c o m m u n ity ?
a) ________ y e s
b) ________ no
I f y e s , p le a s e in d ic a te a g e n c ie s o ffe r in g su ch c la s s e s :
I f y e s , h a v e you a tte n d e d a n y o f th e s e ?
a) ________ y e s - in d ic a te w h ic h : _____________________________
b) ________ no
1 1 . E d u c a tio n a l N e e d s and D e s ir e s :
I f y o u r lo c a l c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e w a s to m a k e
c la s s e s o r e d u c a tio n a l p r o g r a m s a v a ila b le to yo u g e a re d
to y o u r p a r t ic u la r n eed s and in t e r e s t s , w o u ld yo u be
l i k e ly to a tte n d th e m ?
a) ________ ye s
b) ________ no - w h y n o t ? ______________________________________
W o u ld y o u a tte n d o r be m o r e l i k e ly to a tte n d such
c la s s e s i f yo u c o u ld s u g g e s t s p e c ia l c o n d itio n s f o r
th e m ?
a) y e s - w h a t c o n d itio n s ? __________________________
b)
no
129
P le a s e in d ic a te y o u r in t e r e s t ( / )
in th e fo llo w in g ty p e s o f c la s s e s :
N o t W o u ld
C la s s
In te r e s te d In te r e s te d E n r o l l
T h e C h a lle n g e o f M a t u r it y
, 1 ---
F in a n c in g th e L a t e r Y e a r s
_ _ - ■
P la n n in g Y o u r E s ta te
P r o b le m s o f R e t ir e m e n t
--------- ---------
-------
H e a lth f o r S e n io r C itiz e n s
L iv in g in L a t e r L if e
L iv in g W ith in y o u r In c o m e
------- -------
P s y c h o lo g ic a l A s p e c ts o f A g in g
, i i ■ _
H o w to E n jo y R e t ir e m e n t
S o c ia l S e c u r it y an d O th e r
--------- ---------
-------
B e n e fits f o r th e A g e d
------ ---------
In c o m e T a x P r e p a r a t io n
T r a in in g f o r C o m m u n ity S e r v ic e
_ i i
C o n s u m e r C o n c e rn s
- ■ -- - — — . 1 . ...... ,
P h o to g ra p h y
H o m e L a n d s c a p in g
C r e a t iv e C o o k in g
T h e L a w and Y o u
T h e Y o u th S c en e
-------- --------
R a p id R e a d in g
________ .UN.-—
P u b lic S p e a k in g
C o n v e r s a tio n a l S p a n is h
________ ___
C o n v e r s a tio n a l F r e n c h
A r t s and C r a fts
--------- ---------
130
W o u ld y o u p r e f e r to ta k e c la s s e s :
a) ________ f o r c o lle g e c r e d it
b) ________ w ith o u t c o lle g e c r e d it
W h a t w o u ld be th e b e s t t im e o f d a y f o r yo u to a tte n d
c la s s e s :
a) ________ m o rn in g
b) ________ a fte rn o o n
c) ________ e v e n in g
F o r e v e n in g c la s s e s w o u ld yo u p r e f e r th e h o u rs :
a) _________5 :3 0 - 7 :0 0
b) _________7 :0 0 - 8 :3 0
c) 8 :3 0 - 10 :0 0
W o u ld yo u be w illin g to r e m a in in c la s s a ft e r 8 :3 0 p . m . ?
a) ________ y e s
b) ________ no
W h a t d a y o f th e w e e k w o u ld yo u p r e f e r fo r a tte n d in g
c la s s e s ?
a) _______M o n d a y d) T h u rs d a y
b) _______T u e s d a y e)________F r id a y
c) _______W e d n e s d a y f)________S a tu rd a y
W o u ld y o u be in te r e s te d in c o n c e n tra te d c la s s e s th a t
w o u ld m e e t tw o o r th r e e d ays a t a t im e f o r fiv e o r
s ix h o u rs a d a y ?
a) ________ ye s
b) ________ no
131
W h ic h , i f a n y , o f th e fo llo w in g re a s o n s w o u ld lik e ly
p r e v e n t y o u fr o m a tte n d in g c la s s e s ?
a) ________ no t r a n s p o r ta tio n
b) ________ p h y s ic a l d is a b ilitie s o r illn e s s
c) ________ c a n 't le a v e o th e r p e rs o n s a lo n e
d) ________ to o b u s y w ith o th e r a c tiv itie s
e) ________ do n o t c a re fo r th a t ty p e o f a c t iv it y
O u ts id e w h a t yo u m a y h a v e c h e c k e d a b o v e , w o u ld yo u
h a v e a n y h e s ita n c y a b o u t e n r o llin g in a c la s s a t a
c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e ?
a) y e s - in d ic a te w h y : _____________________________
b) no
W o u ld y o u be m o r e lik e ly to e n r o ll in a n a d u lt h ig h
s c h o o l c la s s , a c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e c la s s , o r an
In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g c la s s , i f th e th r e e
in s titu tio n s o ffe r e d e s s e n tia lly th e s a m e c la s s ?
P le a s e in d ic a te f i r s t , seco n d and t h ir d c h o ic e s :
a) ________ a d u lt h ig h s c h o o l
b) ________ c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e
c) ________ In s titu te o f L if e t im e L e a r n in g
D o yo u th in k i t w o u ld be a d v a n ta g e o u s i f y o u r lo c a l
c o m m u n ity /ju n io r c o lle g e and th e In s titu te o f L if e t im e
L e a r n in g c o o p e ra te d in th e o ffe r in g o f e d u c a tio n a l
p r o g r a m s ?
a) ________ ye s
b) ________ no
F in a lly , th e c o m m u n it y /ju n io r c o lle g e s o f C a lif o r n ia w o u ld lik e to
kn o w h o w th e y can s e rv e y o u r n eed s and in te r e s ts b e t t e r . I f yo u
h a v e a n y s u g g e s tio n s , th e y w o u ld be w e lc o m e . P le a s e w r it e th e m
in th e sp ace b e lo w . T h a n k yo u .
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
132
B IB L IO G R A P H Y
A . B O O K S
1. B la k e ly , R o b e r t J . A d u lt E d u c a tio n in a F r e e S o c ie ty .
T o ro n to : G u a rd ia n B ir d P u b lic a tio n s , 1 9 5 8 .
2 . B lo o m , B e n ja m in S . S ta b ility and C h an g e in H u m a n
C h a r a c t e r is t ic s . N e w Y o r k : John W ile y , 1 9 6 4 .
3 . B u s s e , E w a ld W . and P f e i f f e r , E r i c ( e d s .) . B e h a v io r and
A d a p ta tio n . B o s to n : L i t t l e , B ro w n and C o m p a n y , 1 9 6 9 .
4 . D o n a h u e , W ilm a ( e d . ). E d u c a tio n f o r L a t e r M a t u r it y . N e w
Y o r k : W h ite s id e In c o r p o r a te d and W illia m M o r r o w and
C o m p a n y , 1 9 5 5 .
5. D r e s s e l, P a u l L . and P r a t t , S a lly B . T h e W o r ld o f H ig h e r
E d u c a tio n . S an F r a n c is c o : J o s s e y -B a s s In c o r p o r a te d ,
1 9 7 1 .
6 . F i e l d , M in n a . A g in g W ith H o n o r and D ig n ity . S p r in g fie ld :
C h a r le s C . T h o m a s C o m p a n y , 1 9 6 8 .
7. G a r d n e r , J o h n W . N o E a s y V ic t o r ie s . N e w Y o r k : H a r p e r
an d R o w , 1 9 6 8 .
8 . G e is t, H a r o ld . T h e P s y c h o lo g ic a l A s p e c ts o f R e t ir e m e n t .
S p r in g fie ld : 1 9 6 8 .
9 . H a r la c h e r , I r v i n L . T h e C o m m u n ity D im e n s io n o f th e
C o m m u n ity C o lle g e . E n g le w o o d C lif f s : P r e n t i c e - H a l l ,
1 9 7 0 .
10 . H o p p e , W illia m A . ( e d . ). P o lic ie s and P r a c t ic e s in E v e n in g
C o lle g e s . M e tu c h e n : T h e S c a r e c r o w P r e s s , 1 9 6 9 .
11. H u n s a k e r , H e r b e r t and T a r c h e r , M a r t in . 'E d u c a tio n f o r
A g in g . " H a n d b o o k o f A d u lt E d u c a tio n in th e U n ite d
S ta te s . E d ite d b y M a lc o lm S . K n o w le s . W a s h in g to n ,
D . C . : A m e r ic a n C o u n c il on E d u c a tio n , 1 9 6 9 .
1 2. H u tc h in s , R o b e r t M a y n a r d . T h e H ig h e r L e a r n in g in
A m e r ic a . N e w H a v e n : Y a le U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 6 8 .
133
134
13 . J o h n s to n e , J o h n W . C . and R iv e r a , R a m o n . V o lu n te e r s fo r
L e a r n in g ,, C h ic a g o : A ld in e P u b lis h in g C o m p a n y , 1 9 6 5 .
14. K la u s m e ie r , H e r b e r t J . and H a r r i s , C h e s te r W . ( e d s .) .
A n a ly s is o f C o n c e p t L e a r n in g . N e w Y o r k : A c a d e m ic
P r e s s , 1 9 6 6 .
15. K n o w le s , M a lc o lm S . ( e d . ) . H a n d b o o k o f A d u lt E d u c a tio n
in th e U n ite d S ta te s . C h ic a g o : A d u lt E d u c a tio n A s s o c ia
tio n o f th e U n ite d S ta te s o f A m e r ic a , I9 6 0 .
16. ___________. H ig h e r A d u lt E d u c a tio n in the U n ite d S ta te s .
W a s h in g to n , D . C . : A m e r ic a n C o u n c il on E d u c a tio n ,
1 9 6 9 .
17. ___________. T h e M o d e r n P r a c t ic e o f A d u lt E d u c a tio n . N e w
Y o r k : A s s o c ia tio n P r e s s , 1 9 7 0 .
1 8. L o e t h e r , H e r m a n J . P r o b le m s o f A g in g . B e lm o n t: D ic k e n
son P u b lis h in g C o m p a n y , 1 9 6 7 .
19. L o r g e , Ir v in g . " C a p a c itie s o f O ld e r A d u lts . " E d u c a tio n
f o r L a t e r M a t u r it y . E d ite d b y W ilm a D o n a h u e . N e w
Y o r k : W h ite s id e In c o r p o r a te d and W illia m M o r r o w and
C o m p a n y , 1 9 5 5 .
2 0 . M a y h e w , L e w is B . T h e L it e r a t u r e o f H ig h e r E d u c a tio n .
S an F r a n c is c o : J o s s e y -B a s s In c o r p o r a te d , 1 9 7 1 .
2 1 . M i l l e r , H a r r y L . T e a c h in g an d L e a r n in g in A d u lt E d u c a tio n .
N e w Y o r k : T h e M a c m illa n C o m p a n y , 1 9 6 4 .
2 2 . P e t e r s o n , R e n e e , and P e te r s o n , W illia m . U n iv e r s it y A d u lt
E d u c a tio n . N e w Y o r k : H a r p e r and B r o t h e r s , 19o 0.
2 3 . P r e s s e y , S id n e y L . , and K u h le n , R a y m o n d G . P s y c h o lo g ic a l
D e v e lo p m e n t T h ro u g h th e L if e S p a n . N e w Y o r k : H a r p e r
and B r o t h e r s , 1 9 5 7 .
2 4 . R e y n o ld s , J a m e s W . T h e C o m p re h e n s iv e J u n io r C o lle g e
C u r r ic u lu m . B e r k le y : M c C u tc h a n , 1 9 7 0 .
2 5 . R ile y , M a t ild a W h ite and F o n e r , A n n e . A g in g and S o c ie ty .
V o l. I : A n In v e n t o r y o f R e s e a r c h . N e w Y o r k : R u s s e ll
Sage F o u n d a tio n , 1 9 6 8 .
2 6 . S im p s o n , Id a H . , and M c K in n e y , Jo h n C „ ( e d s .) . S o c ia l
A s p e c ts o f A g in g . D u r h a m : D u k e U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 6 6 .
135
2 7 . S m ith , G . K e r r y , ( e d .) . N e w T e a c h in g N e w L e a r n in g -
C u r r e n t Is s u e s in H ig h e r E d u c a tio n 1 9 7 1 . S an F r a n c is c o :
J o s s e y -B a s s In c o r p o r a te d , 1 9 7 1 .
2 8 . S n o w , R o b e r t H . C o m m u n ity A d u lt E d u c a tio n . N e w Y o r k :
G . P . P u tn a m 's S o n s , 1 9 5 5 .
2 9 . T e r m a n , L . M . , and O w e n M . H . T h e G ifte d G ro u p a t M i d -
l i f e . S ta n fo rd : S ta n fo rd U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 5 9 .
3 0 . T h o r n d ik e , E d w a r d L . , e t a l. A d u lt L e a r n in g . N e w Y o r k :
M a c m illa n , 1 9 2 8 .
3 1 . T h o rn to n , J a m e s W . , J r . T h e C o m m u n ity J u n io r C o lle g e .
N e w Y o r k : John W ile y and S o n s , 1 9 6 6 .
3 2 . W e c h s le r , D a v id . T h e M e a s u r e m e n t o f A d u lt In te llig e n c e .
B a lt im o r e : W illia m s and W ilk in s , 1 9 5 9 .
3 3 . W is e , W . M a x . T h e y C o m e f o r th e B e s t o f R e a s o n s -
C o lle g e S tu d e n ts T o d a y . W a s h in g to n , D . C . : A m e r ic a n
C o u n c il on E d u c a tio n , 1 9 5 8 .
3 4 . W h ite h e a d , A lf r e d N o r th . T h e A im s o f E d u c a tio n . N e w
Y o r k : T h e F r e e P r e s s " 1 9 6 7 .
3 5 . W illin g h a m , W a r r e n W . F r e e A c c e s s to H ig h e r E d u c a tio n .
N e w Y o r k : C o lle g e E n tr a n c e E x a m in a tio n B o a r d , 1 9 7 0 .
B . P E R IO D IC A L S
3 6 . B u r k e t t , J e s s . " C o m p re h e n s iv e P r o g r a m m in g f o r L i f e -
L o n g L e a r n in g . " A d u lt E d u c a tio n , X ( W in t e r , I9 6 0 ) ,
1 1 6 -1 2 1 .
3 7 . C o h e n , C h a r le s S. " R e s e a r c h on M e n ta l A b ilit ie s and A g in g ."
A d u lt E d u c a tio n , ILL (S p rin g , 1 9 6 2 ), 1 6 5 -1 7 2 .
3 8 . D o n a h u e , W ilm a . " P r e p a r a tio n f o r L iv in g in th e L a t e r
Y e a r s . " A d u lt E d u c a tio n , I (D e c e m b e r , 1 9 5 0 ), 4 3 - 5 1 .
3 9 . F r o e l ic h e r , F r a n c is . " E d u c a tio n f o r O ld e r A d u lts . " B a l t i
m o r e B u lle tin o f E d u c a tio n , (J u n e , 1 9 5 6 ), 2 8 - 3 1 .
136
4 0 . J o n e s , H a r o ld E . , and C o n ra d , H e r b e r t S . " G ro w th and
D e c lin e o f In te llig e n c e . 1 1 G e n e tic P s y c h o lo g y M o n o g ra p h ,
(M a r c h , 1 9 3 3 ), 2 2 3 - 9 9 .
4 1 . K a s te n b a u m , R o b e r t. " G e ttin g T h e r e A h e a d o f T im e . "
P s y c h o lo g y T o d a y , D e c e m b e r , 1 9 7 1 , p p . 5 2 -5 4 , 8 2 - 8 4 .
4 2 . N e u g a r te n , B e r n ic e L . " G ro w O ld A lo n g W ith M e ! T h e B e s t
is Y e t to B e . " P s y c h o lo g y T o d a y , D e c e m b e r , 19 7 1 ,
p p . 4 5 - 4 7 , 7 9 -8 1 .
4 3 . O w e n s , W . A . "A g e and M e n ta l A b ilit ie s , A S eco n d A d u lt
F o l l o w - U p . " J o u r n a l o f E d u c a tio n a l P s y c h o lo g y , L V I I
(J u n e , 1 9 6 6 ), 3 2 2 -3 2 5 . r
4 4 . R e a ls , W illis H . " E d u c a tio n o f th e A g in g in In s titu tio n s o f
H ig h e r L e a r n in g . " S c h o o l and S o c ie ty , Ju n e 1 2 , 1 9 5 4 ,
p p . 1 7 7 -8 4 .
4 5 . ___________. " E d u c a tio n o f th e A g in g . " J o u r n a l o f H ig h e r
E d u c a tio n , J u n e , 1 9 6 3 , p p . 3 2 0 -3 2 2 .
4 6 . S t. C l a i r , M ic h e le . " G ro w in g S e n io r P o w e r R e v iv e s O ld
A g e P o lit ic s , S t ir s L e g is la to r s to th e P r o b le m s o f th e
A g in g . " C a lif o r n ia J o u r n a l, I I (D e c e m b e r , 1 9 7 1 ),
3 3 0 -3 3 3 .
C . P U B L IC A T IO N S
4 7 . A d a m s , A r t h u r S . T h e C h a lle n g e o f L a t e r M a t u r it y to
E d u c a tio n . D u r h a m , N e w H a m p s h ir e : N e w E n g la n d
C e n te r f o r C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n , 1 9 6 7 .
4 8 . B r a d le y , H a r r y M . , e t a l. F in a l R e p o r t - A P r o g r a m f o r
th e E d u c a tio n a l E n r ic h m e n t o f th e S e n io r C itiz e n s o f
P o lk C o u n ty . B a r to w , F lo r id a : P o lk J u n io r C o lle g e ,
I Wf.
4 9 . C o m m is s io n o f the P r o fe s s o r s o f A d u lt E d u c a tio n . R e p o r t
o f th e C o m m is s io n . A d u lt E d u c a tio n : A N e w Im p e r a t iv e
o f O u r T im e s . W a s h in g to n , D . C . : A d u lt E d u c a tio n
A s s o c ia tio n o f th e U n ite d S ta te s o f A m e r ic a , 1 9 6 1 .
5 0 . D e G a b r ie le , E u g e n e H . A R e v ie w o f P r e s e n t E d u c a tio n a l
O p p o r tu n itie s A v a ila b le to O ld e r A d u lts in C a lif o r n ia 's
P u b lic A d u lt E d u c a tio n P r o g r a m . S a c ra m e n to , C a lif . :
C a lif o r n ia S ta te D e p a r tm e n t o f E d u c a tio n , 1 9 6 7 .
137
5 1 . D ix o n , J . C . C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n in th e L a t e r Y e a r s .
G a in e s v ille , F l a . : U n iv e r s it y o f F lo r id a P r e s s , 1 9 6 3 .
5 2 . D o r d ic k , H . S . A d u lt E d u c a tio n G o a ls f o r L o s A n g e le s -
A W o r k in g P a p e r f o r th e D os A n g e le s G o a ls P r o g r a m .
S a n ta M o n ic a , C a lif . : T h e R a n d C o r p o r a tio n , 1 9 6 8 .
5 3 . D r e e g e , R o b e r t C . C u r r e n t R e s e a r c h in T e s t D e v e lo p m e n t.
A B a c k g ro u n d Pape^r to th e N a tio n a l C o n fe re n c e on M a n
p o w e r T r a in in g and; th e O ld e r W o r k e r . W a s h in g to n ,
D . C . : N a tio n a l C o n fe re n c e on M a n p o w e r T r a in in g and
th e O ld e r W o r k e r , 1 9 6 6 .
5 4 . H a n d ,S a m u e l E . A R e v ie w o f P h y s io lo g ic a l and P s y c h o lo g ic a l
C h a n g e s in A g in g and T h e ir Im p lic a tio n s f o r T e a c h e r s
o f A d u lts . T a lla h a s s e e , F l a . : F l o r id a S ta te D e p a r tm e n t
o f E d u c a tio n , 1 9 5 6 .
5 5 . H e n d r ic k s o n , A n d r e w and B a r n e s , R o b e r t F . T h e R o le o f
C o lle g e s an d U n iv e r s it ie s in th e E d u c a tio n o f th e A g e d .
C o lu m b u s , O h io : O h io S ta te U n iv e r s it y R e s e a r c h
F o u n d a tio n , 1 9 6 4 .
5 6 . J a c o b s , H . L e e , e t a l. E d u c a tio n f o r A g in g : A R e v ie w o f
R e c e n t L i t e r a t u r e . W a s h in g to n , D . C . : A d u lt E d u c a tio n
A s s o c ia tio n o f th e U n ite d S ta te s o f A m e r ic a , 1 9 7 0 .
5 7 . O ffic e o f C o m m u n ity E d u c a tio n . 1 9 7 0 -7 1 A n n u a l R e p o r t .
M o n t e r e y , C a lif . : M o n te r e y P e n in s u la C o lle g e , 1 9 7 1 .
5 8 . U n iv e r s it y o f th e S ta te o f N e w Y o r k . C o n tin u in g E d u c a tio n fo r
A d u lts an d th e S ta te o f N e w Y o r k . A lb a n y , N . Y . : T h e
S ta te D e p a r tm e n t o f E d u c a tio n , I9 6 0 .
5 9 . . F i n a l R e p o r t . S p e c ia l P r o g r a m s U n d e r T i t l e I ,
H ig h e r E d u c a tio n A c t o f 1 9 6 5 . F a r m in g d a le , N . Y . :
U n iv e r s it y o f the S ta te o f N e w Y o r k , 1 9 6 7 .
6 0 . W h ite H o u s e C o n fe re n c e on A g in g . B a c k g ro u n d P a p e r on
E d u c a tio n f o r A g in g . W a s h in g to n , D . C . : T h e
C o n fe r e n c e , 196 1.
D . U N P U B L IS H E D M A T E R IA L S
6 1 . B a r k e r , L o w e ll F . " A d u lt E d u c a tio n C la s s e s O ffe r e d in
C o o p e r a tio n W ith C o m m u n ity G ro u p s . " U n p u b lis h e d
D o c t o r a l D is s e r t a t io n , U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn C a l i f
o r n ia , 1 9 5 6 .
138
6 2 . B u r m a n , A r t h u r C . " A s p ir a tio n a l F u lf illm e n t A m o n g A d u lts
o f L o w e r S o c io e c o n o m ic L e v e ls w ith Im p lic a tio n s fo r
A d u lt E d u c a tio n . " U n p u b lis h e d D o c t o r a l d is s e r ta t io n ,
In d ia n a U n iv e r s it y , 1 9 5 8 .
6 3 . D a v is , J o s e p h in e , H o g e v o ll. " A d u lt A s p ir a tio n and A d u lt
E d u c a tio n . " U n p u b lis h e d D o c t o r a l d is s e r t a tio n ,
U n iv e r s it y o f C a lif o r n ia a t L o s A n g e le s , 1 9 6 5 .
6 4 . F o x , F r e d e r i c k . "A H is t o r y o f E x te n d e d D a y P r o g r a m s o f
th e L o s A n g e le s J u n io r C o lle g e s , " U n p u b lis h e d D o c t o r a l
d is s e r t a t io n , U n iv e r s it y o f C a lif o r n ia a t L o s A n g e le s ,
I960.
6 5 . M a r t in e z , F r a n k R . " C r i t e r i a f o r E v a lu a tio n o f th e C u r r i
c u lu m in A d u lt E d u c a tio n . " U n p u b lis h e d D o c to r a l
d is s e r t a t io n , U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn C a lif o r n ia , 1 9 6 3 .
6 6 . M y r e s , J o h n W illia m . " A d m in is tr a tiv e P e r s o n n e l in A d u lt
E d u c a tio n . " U n p u b lis h e d D o c to r a l d is s e r ta tio n ,
U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn C a lif o r n ia , 1 9 6 5 .
6 7 . P o o r k a j, H a n s a n g . " S o c ia l P s y c h o lo g ic a l F a c t o r s and
'S u c c e s s fu l A g in g ', " U n p u b lis h e d D o c t o r a l d is s e r ta tio n ,
U n iv e r s it y o f S o u th e rn C a lif o r n ia , 1 9 6 7 .

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Creator Carlson, Charles Richard (author)

Core Title The Role Of The California Community Colleges In The Education Of The Aged

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program Education

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag education, higher,OAI-PMH Harvest

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor Wilbur, Leslie (committee chair), Anderson, Totton J. (committee member), Grafton, Clive L. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-763498

Unique identifier UC11364371

Identifier 7300726.pdf (filename),usctheses-c18-763498 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier 7300726

Dmrecord 763498

Document Type Dissertation

Rights Carlson, Charles Richard

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

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