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EDUCATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS
AS A METHOD OF PRESERVING
THE COGNITIVE CAPITAL OF THE POPULATION
L. N. Dunaeva
M. K. Kremenchutskaya V. A. Rozanov
In the recent years the aging of the population has been observed on a global scale. Among the reasons are extended lifespans, the reduction in infectious diseases and the chronic non-infectious disease mortality rate, as well as reductions in external causes of mortality. According to a forecast by the World Health Organisation, the proportion of people at the age of 50 and older will reach 32% of the entire population of Europe by 2025. These factors challenge society and are making it pay more attention to the older people (based on recommendations of the International Labor Organization, this category includes all people older than 45 years old).
Despite the fact that Ukraine is among countries with a low life expectancy (64 years for men and 72 years for women), older people in our country already account for 22% of the population. Changes in the labor market and an economy being redirected toward a post-industrial reality involve significant groups of people in re-education and re-training. Higher educational establishments, and in particular, specialized ones - institutions of post-graduate education - must react flexibly to all these changes, in our opinion. The situation is challenged by corresponding changes in the demographic situation - a decrease in the number of children and youngsters, subsequently, a decrease in the number of potential students and a decline in the potential of the educational market segment.
The matter of the creative performance and learning ability of older people is to be questioned. Indeed, some intellectual and special skills worsen with age and, in particular, some difficulties occur during the acquisition of new knowledge and ideas, and in adaptation to unforeseen circumstances. On the other hand, there is no strict correlation between the age and a decrease in creative skills and knowledge acquisition skills. Outstanding scientists and artists often preserve productivity not only in the "third age”, but in old age. Aging, however, has its laws. The most threatening changes for a person and his/her relatives are those affecting brain and nervous system activity. With age, the brain as a physiological organ starts functioning less intensively, while intelligence, abstract reasoning, associative thinking and individual traits may still be clearly expressed. The quality of thought is largely determined by the level of its complexity and by how accurately it interprets reality. An older person will probably process infor-
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mation more slowly and have a less retentive memory, but still he/she may remain unmistakable and profound in his/her judgments.
In a significant number of cases, as old age comes, intellectual abilities may even improve. In terms of IQ test indicators, the relative position of a person remains practically unchanged among the people of the same age. But an essential condition of the preservation and improvement of the intelligence of older people is their activity in social and practical spheres. Research has revealed that the mental faculties of a person increase as a result of intellectual exercises, similar to physical performance. People are capable of learning at any age and their intelligence is not necessarily exposed to destruction. It must be noted, however, that there can be considered two parts of intelligence: "flexible” and "crystallized” parts. The first part functions when one must react to unforeseen situations and quickly find an unconventional solution. This ability develops with constant use and decreases if it is unused. The second constituent is responsible for data analysis, and oral and written expression of thoughts and feelings. This does not decrease with age, but quite the opposite; it is able to improve with age, and this can be illustrated with numerous examples. Regarding cases of senile dementia, it has to be considered as a result of disease or an extremely negative environmental effect. For example, the risk of Alzheimer's disease, on the one hand, depends on the presence of certain genes, and on the other, on brain injuries. Atherosclerotic senile dementia is a result of a brain nutrition disorder caused by a whole complex of atherosclerosis risk factors (genetics, stress, diet, alcohol abuse, smoking, etc.). All these syndromes certainly happen more often among the elderly, and yet it is not an inevitable aspect of the "normal” aging. Epidemiological studies held in recent years argue in favor of this and convincingly demonstrate that active older people who use their cognitive functions (in any form, up to and including crossword puzzles, let alone involvement in a fascinating educational process) are the least likely to suffer early senility, and in particular, Alzheimer's disease.
In view of this, we put forward, as a promising idea, the creation in our country, in particular, in the city of Odessa (which is, by the way, is well known for its intellectual potential and optimism of the population) of an elaborate educational system for older people, based on the model popular in many European countries and on the system of on-going education in the USA. We would like to underline that the creation of such a system will be aimed at addressing many social and economic problems, and will definitely contribute to the extension of the active life of older people, the elderly and pensioners. When older people appear within the walls of a higher
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educational establishment, for them it will become an important factor of resocialization, social inclusion, and improvement of their quality of life and personal health. We are quite confident that with a help of a thought-out approach to education for older people, it will be possible to freeze the negative trends of lifespan reduction and to move towards active longevity and productive aging.
The American psychologist Eric Ericson described the eight crises that a person experiences in a lifespan. The crisis experienced by an older person indicates an end of a way of life and a solution to this crisis depends on how the life was spent. Some people take a look back and feel either satisfaction or disappointment. During this period many people stop pursuing the goals they set at an early age, but they switch to the new interesting activities, are inclined to make new acquaintances and keep their ability to control their environment. Such lifestyles help older people experience a feeling of satisfaction in life and extends their lifespans.
One of the most important elements of a proposed educational system is the provision of older people with new opportunities to apply their skills so that they can again be in demand by the labor market. Computer technology has substantially modified the nature of work, and it can transform older people (who have spare time and reduced mobility) into an important segment of the changing system of work relations. A majority of functioning pensioners-homeworkers could be involved in manufacturing, which will impact their economic position and self-esteem. But this should be preceded by a process of re-education and retraining with the elements of psychological education.
Education in old age is an instrument of preserving the ability of social adaptation and integration through the acquisition on a systematic basis of information about the changing world. The right of education - one of the main human rights - can not be limited by age. Adult education in retirement is not meant for a profession acquisition, it is informal education, aimed at personal development, social adaptation and communication of people, and maintenance of a positive attitude to life. The training of adults is an international task. As noted by the Hamburg Declaration on Adult Learning (UNESCO, 1997) "elderly people will have to make a significant contribution to the development of the society. In this respect, it is vital that they have an opportunity to study on equal terms and adequately. Their skills and abilities have to be appreciated and used.” In view of this, we suggest that the following directions may be followed in the education of older people within educational institutions: (a) computer skills and knowledge acquisition; (b) introduction to the key chapters of psychological
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science; (c) healthy lifestyle training; (d) teaching needed professions relating to computer technology.
In this report we wanted to draw attention to the fact that there has been for many years a slogan in gerontology: "Add life to years and years to life”. Moreover, as the era of total computerization has started, the number of opportunities to realize this slogan has grown. Education of older people is a step towards active longevity and an improvement in the health of the whole of society. The moral aspect of the issue is that, taking care of the elderly, we ultimately take care of our relatives - and ourselves.
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