Needs for New Emphases in Social and Educational Policy Toward the Elderly

It is time for social policy to look beyond the basic maintenance needs of the elderly to the higher needs of sharing and participation. Research in the needs of the aged has recognized these higher needs as central to adaptation and continued growth in later life. Research in the learning ability of the aged, while leading to much debate as to specific cognitive abilities, has produced no opinion that the elderly can not benefit from continued learning. Much of the research argues that there are great benefits to be achieved through continued exposure to learning. The elderly have been found, however, to prefer informal programs in settings which are familiar to them to programs in schools or colleges. Research in group formation among the elderly and in the leadership abilities of the elderly has found both to be feasible and rewarding to the older person. The indications of the research and writing cited are that policy toward the elderly should emphasize small‐scale social participation and informal learning opportunities. To this should be added programs to train leaders of the elderly to teach their groups to help themselves.