Never Stop Learning: Classes For Seniors

10/22/2015
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Classes For Seniors:
Taking Classes Can Help Keep a Senior’s Mind and Body in Shape

 

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Baloney. We’re never too old to take classes and courses to improve ourselves physically and mentally. In fact, there are a great number of classes available specifically for seniors. It’s just a matter of locating them and selecting which interest you most.

Of course, one can always go back to college (a university or community college) and take standard classwork, but the time commitment and cost might be too much to handle for some. Here, we’re primarily talking about classes that are low-cost, brief, perhaps a week or a few weeks long, that can help relieve boredom, offer an opportunity to socialize, and help increase mental and physical power.

Such classes include:

  • creative writing
  • art history
  • world history
  • English Literature
  • drawing and painting
  • music
  • theater
  • computer usage
  • swimming
  • dancing
  • fitness
  • cooking
  • bird watching
  • and other fitness classes

    These are only a few examples. The type of courses offered are numerous and varied.

If you’re a senior who’s interested in getting out and meeting people and working that mind and body, there are a few ways to locate courses in your area. You can visit your local community college or view their website to see what they offer. 84 percent of community colleges offer courses specifically for students age 50 and older, according to a recent survey of 204 community colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Although not free, community colleges won’t bust your budget. “For a full-time student, the cost of tuition is less than $2,500 dollars,” says George Boggs, American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) president and CEO. “If you break that down by course, it’s less than $800.” National average prices fluctuate by state and college. If you live in an assisted living community, ask your activity director. He or she should be able to assist you with finding classes. There are also websites you can view to locate courses in your area, such as programsforelderly.com.

If you’re unable to leave home, there are a number of courses you can take online, right there at your computer, and some are free. You can start your search for such classes at universalclass.com and seniornet.org. Plus, many universities also offer online courses; check the website of the university of interest.

Additionally, did you know that a number of colleges and universities allow seniors to audit classes at a nominal charge or at no cost at all? More and more retirees are taking advantage of these programs. Some universities have had to cap the number of auditing students to keep from flooding popular classes. A growing number of retirement communities have negotiated arrangements with nearby campuses as one of the benefits of living there.

Some of the larger programs include Boston University, where more than one thousand seniors a year audit classes through their Evergreen program. Seniors (58 or older) pay $125 a course. Colleges like Pomona and Penn State offer seniors the opportunity to audit classes free, while the University of Washington charges a small amount per course. Some states like Minnesota and Virginia require in-state universities to allow seniors to audit classes.

Check with your state’s department of aging for a list of universities that have “lifelong learning programs” that offer seniors tuition-free courses when space is available. In Ohio, for example, 36 institutions offer no-fee courses to people over 60.

For a partial list of colleges and universities that allow auditing of classes go to www.google.com and enter “audit classes” in the advanced search box.

If you’re looking to move to an assisted living facility that’s located near a university, visit the Alternatives for Seniors website to locate the home that’s right for you, or call a Senior Specialists at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747) for personalized assistance.

BLOG Date: Thursday, October 22, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen