What Older People Learn

“Heartfelt and ever-endearing—equal parts information and inspiration. This is a book to keep by your bedside and return to often.”—Amy Dickinson, nationally syndicated advice columnist "Ask Amy" More than one thousand extraordinary Americans share their stories and the wisdom they have gained on living, loving, and finding happiness. After a chance encounter with an extraordinary ninety-year-old woman, renowned gerontologist Karl Pillemer began to wonder what older people know about life that the rest of us don't. His quest led him to interview more than one thousand Americans over the age of sixty-five to seek their counsel on all the big issues: children, marriage, money, career, aging. Their moving stories and uncompromisingly honest answers often surprised him. And he found that he consistently heard advice that pointed to these thirty lessons for living. Here he weaves their personal recollections of difficulties overcome and lives well lived into a timeless book filled with the hard-won advice these older Americans wish someone had given them when they were young. Like This I Believe, StoryCorps's Listening Is an Act of Love, and Tuesdays with Morrie, 30 Lessons for Living is a book to keep and to give. Offering clear advice toward a more fulfilling life, it is as useful as it is inspiring.

The Dreams to Reality Fieldbook Have you ever wondered why some people accomplish so much more than you do even though they have the same 24 hours? Are you tired of watching everyone else get what they want? Are you ashamed of being jealous of your friends, family or strangers who are living the life you wish you had? What if that could be you? What if you were able to make the income you have always wanted? How about taking a trip around the world without worry? What if you could live life without regrets? Would you be interested in that type of power? You can't change your past but you can have the future you want by changing the actions you take right now. In The Dreams to Reality Fieldbook, Robert Chen shows you how, step by step. This fieldbook was not written to make you feel good. You are not going to find rags-to-riches stories or tips about affirmations and positive thinking. This book was designed to take any dream that you have and turn it into a reality. That's it. Robert's focus when creating this fieldbook was to make it comprehensive, easy-to-understand and as short as possible. This book is not for someone who hopes it will work like magic with little to no effort. Each chapter ends with specific action steps that you should take before moving on. If you do not want to follow the steps, don't waste your time and money because this book will not help you if all you do is read it without stopping to take action. There are only two pre-requisites for this fieldbook: A dream A desire and willingness to commit to pursuing your dream It doesn't matter if you do not know how to achieve your dream, that is why Robert wrote this book. All that matters is that you want to achieve it. You will learn how to: Challenge beliefs and assumptions that hold you back from committing to your dreams Properly set goals that will allow you to turn your dreams into possibilities Create a practical plan that fits into your schedule to achieve your goals Execute your plan to turn possibilities into reality Overcome barriers that will arise when you execute your plan Celebrate and repeat the process again This book contains the information you need to turn your dreams into reality. All you have to do is to follow the steps.

Timeless wisdom on growing old gracefully from one of ancient Rome's greatest philosophers Worried that old age will inevitably mean losing your libido, your health, and possibly your marbles too? Well, Cicero has some good news for you. In How to Grow Old, the great Roman orator and statesman eloquently describes how you can make the second half of life the best part of all—and why you might discover that reading and gardening are actually far more pleasurable than sex ever was. Filled with timeless wisdom and practical guidance, Cicero's brief, charming classic—written in 44 BC and originally titled On Old Age—has delighted and inspired readers, from Saint Augustine to Thomas Jefferson, for more than two thousand years. Presented here in a lively new translation with an informative new introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, the book directly addresses the greatest fears of growing older and persuasively argues why these worries are greatly exaggerated—or altogether mistaken. Montaigne said Cicero's book "gives one an appetite for growing old." The American founding father John Adams read it repeatedly in his later years. And today its lessons are more relevant than ever in a world obsessed with the futile pursuit of youth.

This first truly comprehensive interdisciplinary, international critique of theory and practice in lifelong learning as it relates to later life is an absolute tour de force. Alexandra Withnall, Universities of Warwick and Leicester, UK. This is a book that needed to be written: it provides a most thorough and skilful analysis of a comprehensive range of contemporary literature about learning in later life from many localities and countries of the world. Peter Jarvis, Professor Emeritus, University of Surrey Impressive in its scope this handbook seeks to describe older learning critically within the lifelong learning literature at the same time that it makes a strong and persuasive case for taking older learning seriously in our postmodern world. Kenneth Wain, University of Malta Lifelong learning in later life is an essential handbook for a wide range of people who work alongside older adults in varied contexts. This handbook brings together both orthodox approaches to educational gerontology and fresh perspectives on important emerging issues faced by seniors around the globe. Issues discussed include the social construction of ageing, the importance of lifelong learning policy and practice, participation in later life learning, education of marginalised groups within older communities, inter-generational learning, volunteering and ‘active ageing’, the political economy of older adulthood, learning for better health and well-being, and the place of seniors in a learning society. Brian Findsen is a professor of adult education, Faculty of Education, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. His writings are usually constructed within a social justice framework such as The Fourth Sector: Adult and Community Education in Aotearoa New Zealand (edited with John Benseman and Miriama Scott in 1996) and Learning later (2005). Marvin Formosa is a lecturer in the European Centre for Gerontology, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. In addition to various articles focusing on critical educational gerontology, recent and forthcoming books include Social Class Dynamics in Later Life (2009) and Social Class in Later Life: Power, Identity and Lifestyle (with Paul Higgs, 2012).

Worried about your placement? Will you fit in? Will you have the right skills? What do you need to learn for practice assessments? This book will help you with all these concerns. It will tell you what to expect from the placement, what you can learn, how to link theory and practice, and how to make the most of your learning opportunities. A logical, step-by-step approach to preparing for a medical placement Helps make the most of learning opportunities Explains how to develop medical competencies, mapping specific cancer and palliative care exercises and activities to the NMC competencies Narratives from other students describe what the placement will really be like Honest discussion of the challenges of a medical placement to help avoid problems Advice on possible approaches to situations that may arise Focus on the essential evidence base of cancer and palliative care nursing, linking theory to practice Series features: A unique guide to getting the most from clinical placements What to expect before a placement What you can expect to learn on placement How to consolidate your experience and learning Clear links and examples with NMC proficiencies Guidance on what to use as evidence for portfolios Short case studies to link theory with practice Key points reminder boxes

WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER A Financial Times Book of the Month Back to Human explains how a more socially connected workforce creates greater fulfillment, productivity, and engagement while preventing burnout and turnover. The next generation of leaders must create a workplace where teammates feel genuinely connected, engaged, and empowered -- without relying on technology. Based on Dan Schawbel's exclusive research studies -- featuring the perspectives of over 2,000 managers and employees across different age groups -- Back to Human reveals why virtual communication, though vital and useful, actually contributes to a stronger sense of isolation at work than ever before. How can we change this culture? Schawbel offers a self-assessment called the "Work Connectivity Index" that measures the strength of team relationships. He also shares exercises, examples, and activities that readers can work on individually or as a team, which will help them increase personal productivity, be more collaborative, and become more fulfilled at work. Back to Human ultimately helps you decide when and how to use technology to build better connections in your work life. It is a call to action to leaders across the world to make the workplace a better experience for all of us.

Learning matters in later life. It enables older workers to sustain their productiveness in the workplace and adapt their experience and skills to changing contexts. Older workers matter: the age of retirement is increasing, and moving away from paid work is becoming more of a prolonged process, less of an abrupt transformation. People who carry on learning lead healthier lives: learning reduces morbidity, and delays the effects of Alzheimer's on learners' social interactions. Older people are civically active: more likely to vote, usually the mainstay of voluntary organisations. This is a report of an authoritative scientific study of older learners, part of NIACE's series of annual surveys on adult participation in learning. It examines their subjects of study, motivations to learn, ways of finding out about, and getting to, learning; it reports on the benefits they perceive, the ways they learn, and their views on qualifications and fees; it identifies the key barriers to learning, the effects of illness and disability and access to technology. Practitioners and managers in adult learning, and educational researchers in general, will find this full and detailed review of crucial information about an increasingly important group of learners invaluable as a source of information and insight.

This important book builds on recent publications in lifelong learning which focus on learning and education in later life. This work breaks new ground in international understandings of what constitutes later life learning across diverse cultures in manifold countries or regions across the world. Containing 42 separate country/regional analyses of later life learning, the overall significance resides in insiders’ conceptualisations and critique of this emerging sub-field of lifelong learning and adult education. International perspectives on older adult education provides new appreciation of what is happening in countries from Europe (14), Africa (10), the Americas (7), Asia (9) and Australasia (2), as authored by adult educators and/or social gerontologists in respective geographical areas. These analyses are contextualised by a thorough introduction and critical appraisal where trends and fresh insights are revealed. The outcome of this book is a never-before available critique of what it means to be an older learner in specific nations, and the accompanying opportunities and barriers for learning and education. The sub-title of research, policy and practice conveys the territory that authors traverse in which rhetoric and reality are interrogated. Coverage in chapters includes conceptual analysis, historical patterns of provision, policy developments, theoretical perspectives, research studies, challenges faced by countries and “success stories” of later life learning. The resultant effect is a vivid portrayal of a vast array of learning that occurs in later life across the globe. Brian Findsen is Professor of Education and Postgraduate Leader for Te Whiringa School of Educational Leadership and Policy, Faculty of Education, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Marvin Formosa is Head of the Department of Gerontology, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta, and Director of the International Institute on Ageing (United Nations - Malta).