This week's guest blogger
Linda Miller
Director
Iowa Department on Aging
Iowa has consistently been ranked as one of the best states for aging by a number of organizations and research studies. In fact, U.S. News & World Report recently named Iowa fourth in the nation in terms of the many ways it addresses and prioritizes the needs of its older citizens. It’s no surprise to most Iowans that our state does a tremendous job in areas like cost of living, median income, health care quality, and other factors, such as promoting age-friendly communities. But another key factor in keeping older Iowans healthy and happy is access to lifelong learning – and that is an area where Iowa excels.
The World Health Organization defines healthy aging as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age.” In other words, healthy aging includes an individual’s ability to meet his/her basic needs; make decisions; build and maintain relationships; and continue to learn and contribute to society. For older Iowans, staying engaged and informed can be as simple as making a phone call to the nearest community college.
As part of a joint effort with the Wallace Winkie Foundation, the Iowa Department on Aging is working on creating a catalog of all the lifelong learning opportunities offered by the state’s public and private universities and colleges. To our knowledge, such a list has never been formally compiled; however, because we know what an important role an active mind plays when it comes to aging, we felt this would be a valuable resource to offer older Iowans and their loved ones.
What we have uncovered so far is amazing! All three of Iowa’s public universities, most of its private colleges and universities and all 15 of the state’s community colleges have continuing education programs for older adults, many of which offer courses for free or at significantly reduced rates. Topics covered vary dramatically, from life and leisure courses to robust programs focused on computer technology, adult literacy, and skills training designed to help older Iowans prepare for a second (or third!) career.
While our catalog is not yet finished, I am looking forward to offering this valuable resource to older Iowans and their loved ones in the very near future. It’s clear from our work so far that Iowa indeed is a state rich with opportunities for lifelong learners, and I believe all Iowans benefit from having so many programs available to help keep our hearts and minds engaged as we age.
Linda Miller
Director
Iowa Department on Aging
Iowa has consistently been ranked as one of the best states for aging by a number of organizations and research studies. In fact, U.S. News & World Report recently named Iowa fourth in the nation in terms of the many ways it addresses and prioritizes the needs of its older citizens. It’s no surprise to most Iowans that our state does a tremendous job in areas like cost of living, median income, health care quality, and other factors, such as promoting age-friendly communities. But another key factor in keeping older Iowans healthy and happy is access to lifelong learning – and that is an area where Iowa excels.
The World Health Organization defines healthy aging as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age.” In other words, healthy aging includes an individual’s ability to meet his/her basic needs; make decisions; build and maintain relationships; and continue to learn and contribute to society. For older Iowans, staying engaged and informed can be as simple as making a phone call to the nearest community college.
As part of a joint effort with the Wallace Winkie Foundation, the Iowa Department on Aging is working on creating a catalog of all the lifelong learning opportunities offered by the state’s public and private universities and colleges. To our knowledge, such a list has never been formally compiled; however, because we know what an important role an active mind plays when it comes to aging, we felt this would be a valuable resource to offer older Iowans and their loved ones.
What we have uncovered so far is amazing! All three of Iowa’s public universities, most of its private colleges and universities and all 15 of the state’s community colleges have continuing education programs for older adults, many of which offer courses for free or at significantly reduced rates. Topics covered vary dramatically, from life and leisure courses to robust programs focused on computer technology, adult literacy, and skills training designed to help older Iowans prepare for a second (or third!) career.
While our catalog is not yet finished, I am looking forward to offering this valuable resource to older Iowans and their loved ones in the very near future. It’s clear from our work so far that Iowa indeed is a state rich with opportunities for lifelong learners, and I believe all Iowans benefit from having so many programs available to help keep our hearts and minds engaged as we age.