Ian Searle, national chairman of the volunteer-run University of the Third Age (U3A) has announced that U3A will soon offer courses in care homes. More than 300 subjects – from languages to photography – will be taught online or in classes held at homes; the choice will be based on surveys of local demand.
Interviewed in “Mature Times”, Searle says: “We know that learning benefits the frail elderly. It’s been shown that care homes which provide learning opportunities need fewer sleeping pills.”
He goes on: “Without learning opportunities, care homes can become places where society ‘parks’ the frail and elderly while they await death. Residents can become over-medicated and under-stimulated. We want to see an end to the practice of lining residents up in front of the TV all day.”
U3A uses a “learning for pleasure” approach, meaning no accreditation, assessments or qualifications.
The initiative has been welcomed by Fiona Aldridge, head of research at the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Mature Times: www.maturetimes.co.uk
National Institute of Adult Continuing Education: http://www.niace.org.uk/
Photo Credit: pedrosimoes7 via Compfight cc