The ability to discover and learn new things brings purpose to our lives. For instance, honing your painting skills can make you feel good about yourself, especially when other people appreciate your art. Even during post-retirement years, learning can benefit our older loved ones’ daily living experience.
After working so hard in their long careers, many view retirement as a time to kick back and relax. That being said, relaxation mustn’t interfere with the desire to learn and explore new things. There should be that continuous urge to acquire knowledge at every stage in life.
Lifelong learning refers to the voluntary and self-inspired pursuit of knowledge, often for self-development purposes. Becoming a lifelong learner as an older adult means admitting that learning never ends and is a positive way to live life after retirement.
At Seasons Retirement, we prioritize the enlightenment of our residents. Our service team members ensure that residents have the means to access digital resources of their choice to keep them active and informed.
There are several ways lifelong learning can improve the lives of your parents or grandparents — from improving their cognitive health and assisting in dealing with loneliness to bringing happiness and joy. The following are some of the wonderful benefits of lifelong learning.
Neurons are nerve cells responsible for transmitting brain impulses throughout the body. As with other somatic cells, neurons experience regeneration constantly to ensure the brain functions optimally.
Lifelong learning has been found to improve the process of neuron regeneration and connection in the brain. This means that your older loved ones will enjoy a healthy and optimally-functioning brain if they continually engage in a mentally stimulating activity like learning.
One of the amazing benefits of lifelong learning is improved cognitive health. Active participation in educational classes will help sharpen your older loved one’s cognitive function and slow down any decline.
Additionally, lifelong learning can help promote and improve one’s memory health. Since it involves learning, understanding and remembering new concepts, continuous learning will sharpen your parents’ or grandparents’ memory retention skills.
As with individuals of all ages, older people may sometimes struggle with feelings of unhappiness. Luckily, participating in cognitively stimulating activities, such as reading, playing chess, or even learning how their iPhone works, can help enhance their overall mood.
Acquiring new skills can give older adults a new lease on life and a renewed sense of purpose. Moreover, focusing on new tasks improves one’s self-esteem. Simple activities that can boost self-confidence include gardening, grooming a pet, making household repairs, and so on.
The importance of lifelong learning is not limited to cognitive, memory, or emotional health, as it also promotes excellent physical well-being in older adults.
People are likely to become less active as they grow older, which may negatively impact their overall well-being. Fortunately, engaging in exciting hobbies and learning new things can help one stay fresh and active. Activities like knitting, dancing, and yoga can help your loved ones live an active lifestyle and enjoy tremendous health benefits.
One of the most significant advantages of lifelong learning is that it encourages social interaction. Some people, especially those who retire in their homes, often struggle to socialize and may become lonely. Lifelong learning for seniors can help them meet and connect with people of similar interests.
Participating in various classes, such as art, cooking, or even fashion, offers your parents or grandparents an opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals. In the long run, continuous learning can be an efficient way for older adults to deal with social isolation.
Lifelong learning is a practice that can help lower stress levels and decrease the blood pressure of older people. For example, merely reading a book can help your older loved ones relax and ease the tension in their nerves and muscles.
Also, learning to play a musical instrument is beneficial in various ways. For example, music can be soothing to the mind, providing a means for older people to deal with various challenges and changes in their lives after retirement.
7. Brings New Purpose
Learning sparks new interests in individuals of all ages. And it helps bring a purpose to the lives of older adults, even after retirement.
So, if your older loved one is looking to take on a new challenge and perhaps rekindle their enthusiasm for life, they should consider lifelong learning.
One of the advantages of long-term education for seniors is that it lowers the risk of memory loss. In fact, research shows that continuous learning can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. This is because lifelong learning improves the regeneration of brain neurons and the strength of their connection.
One doesn’t necessarily have to go for academic knowledge in retirement. Instead, they can improve the quality of their lives by learning to handle their finances better, enhancing their communication skills, updating their life skills, and so on.
You should encourage your older loved ones to take part in physical and free online classes, perhaps through schools, libraries, or even retirement communities, to learn valuable skills for an enjoyable post-retirement life.
Post-retirement represents a time for one to take on challenges and pursue their passion. So, if your parents or grandparents want to bag another academic degree, start gardening, acquire an artistic skill, or even discover photography, you should encourage them to start learning as it’s not too late. Indeed, pursuing new interests will bring smiles to your older loved one’s face.
There are so many rewarding and amazing benefits of lifelong learning, and so it’s crucial to prioritize the education and learning of your older loved ones.
If your parents or grandparents are looking to move into a retirement community, Seasons Retirement is an ideal choice, as we provide the opportunity for older adults to experience lifelong learning in a comfortable environment.