Education and Learning for Active Aging: Promising Practices and Findings from the Age-It Research Program

This study maps ‘promising practices’ across a range of organizations that support older adults’ participation and learning, to develop an evidence base for relevant policies and programs. It presents findings from the Learning, Education, and Active Aging Board (LEAA) of the Age-It Research Program. Methods: This mixed-methods study - following a sequential explanatory design - has gathered quantitative data via a questionnaire completed by several public and private organizations active in offering programs/activities to older adults. The questionnaire collected information about organization profile, target population, and educational activity. For qualitative data, semi-structured interviews conducted with staff coordinators and managers. Results: 43 organizations, mostly Italian NGOs, reported on 50 ‘promising practices’ with a wide range of aims, coherently with the definition of lifelong and lifewide learning: social inclusion, health promotion, caregivers support, social work and volunteering, digital literacy, and intergenerational activities. Lack of coordination, low exchange between organizations, funding and sustainability are the main weaknesses. From the analysis of qualitative data three main topics emerged: prevention of frailty, empowerment through innovation and participation. Discussion: this exploratory study outlines the richness of the mapped activities, as well as limited exchange and collaboration among the involved actors, absence of a shared framework to assess the quality of practices addressed to older adults’ learning and participation, and the need for research and evaluation. Furthermore, national policies for active and healthy aging should allocate specific resources for learning and education, to support older adults in terms of skills, social participation, meaning, and recognition.