Learning in older people

Abstract

The life expectancy is increasing  every day, the quality of life has increased a new stage called, retirement, this stage is characterized by great changes to enjoy free time, get knowledge that they did not have, opportunity to carry out activities; in other decades, time was used to rest while currently being used for lifelong learning. The increase of the population contributes to the development of society, offering the possibility of learning in equal conditions, being valued and recognized. The image of aging societies is evidence more and more remarkable, therefore, permanent education is an unfinished process for any person, every day there is something to learn. Martínez Rodríguez points out (2006, p. 51) that, to age well is to age actively and this implies fundamentally three conditions: to grow old having a social role, to age with health and to age with security. “Active aging requires society to guarantee that older citizens can continue to be informed, while ensuring that all their rights are recognized. It assumes an intergenerational approach by recognizing the importance of relationships and the help that members of one generation and another offer each other. It requires an integral approach, because it offers a more complete and global vision of people and their aging process”. (Bermejeo, 2010, p. 10). As it is reflected in the White Paper, active aging constitutes, in short, a fundamental aspect to combat and delay dependency situations both physical, psychic, social, educational and functional. (IMSERSO, 2011).