Educational Programs for Older Adults in Salt Lake County: Filling the Gaps

Interviews with 32 directors of educational programs were conducted to create a description of programs for older adults in Salt Lake County and its surrounding area, and to find aspects in common among programs with high enrollment. Program directors also shared their views on obstacles to the program, successful components of an educational program, the development of new classes, and community support. A historical overview of adult education and the description of older adult education programs in the United States is provided. Programs for older adults in the Salt Lake county area are compared to national offerings. The author identifies resources and needs in Utah program offerings. The categories in which needs are found are: Four-year colleges and universities, Institutes for Learning in Retirement, vocational training, Shepherd's Centers, museums and libraries, OASIS, and intergenerational programs. The need for education among administrators and instructors of older adults is emphasized. Partnerships between programs, policymakers, community leaders and organizations, and older adults are seen as the solution for filling the gaps in older adult educational program offerings in Salt Lake county.