Barriers to Age-Friendly Universities (AFU): Lessons from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute demographics and perceptions

R. Jack Hansen; Craig A. Talmage; Steven P. Thaxton; Richard Knopf

doi:10.1080/02701960.2019.1572003

Barriers to Age-Friendly Universities (AFU): Lessons from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute demographics and perceptions

R. Jack Hansen, Craig A. Talmage, Steven P. Thaxton, Richard Knopf

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The age-friendliness of universities and colleges is a growing area of research and practice. This study focuses on lifelong learning institutes at universities and colleges who provide courses and experiences for older adults but do not award academic or work-related credentials. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) network in the U.S. is used as an exemplary case of institutes that aim to increase the age-friendliness of their supporting institutions, whilst also aiming for greater diversity among their learners. This study draws upon literature regarding OLLIs and Age-Friendly Universities (AFUs) and national demographic surveys of OLLI student members in 2014 and 2016 (n= 5,500). The study highlights the 2016 demographic characteristics of OLLI learners, notes changes since 2014, and makes comparisons to national trends. Furthermore, this study investigates the barriers to participation identified by older learners participating in OLLIs, considered in light of studies that have addressed such obstacles for underrepresented groups.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	221-243
Number of pages	23
Journal	Gerontology and Geriatrics Education
Volume	40
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2019.1572003
State	Published - Apr 3 2019

Keywords

Older adults
access to learning
lifelong learning programs
third age learning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Education
Geriatrics and Gerontology

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10.1080/02701960.2019.1572003

Cite this

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title = "Barriers to Age-Friendly Universities (AFU): Lessons from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute demographics and perceptions",

abstract = "The age-friendliness of universities and colleges is a growing area of research and practice. This study focuses on lifelong learning institutes at universities and colleges who provide courses and experiences for older adults but do not award academic or work-related credentials. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) network in the U.S. is used as an exemplary case of institutes that aim to increase the age-friendliness of their supporting institutions, whilst also aiming for greater diversity among their learners. This study draws upon literature regarding OLLIs and Age-Friendly Universities (AFUs) and national demographic surveys of OLLI student members in 2014 and 2016 (n= 5,500). The study highlights the 2016 demographic characteristics of OLLI learners, notes changes since 2014, and makes comparisons to national trends. Furthermore, this study investigates the barriers to participation identified by older learners participating in OLLIs, considered in light of studies that have addressed such obstacles for underrepresented groups.",

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note = "Funding Information: The data from this study comes from two national surveys of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute network in the United States. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) network is comprised of 122 university-based lifelong learning programs. The total enrollment in this network is approximately 165,000 members. Each program has received funding from The Bernard Osher Foundation and continues to receive a variety of services from the National Resource Center for Osher Institutes (Osher NRC) at Northwestern University who administered this national survey. The OLLI network began with a single program at the University of Southern Maine in 2001 and has grown to its present size in the intervening years. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019, {\textcopyright} 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.",

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Barriers to Age-Friendly Universities (AFU): Lessons from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute demographics and perceptions

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