Balyasnikova, Natalia, Markowski, Marianne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4652-3168 and Vseteckova, Jitka (2025) Learning in the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing: insights from Canada and the UK. In: ESRAD Online Conference 2025, 11th - 13th June, 2025, Online.

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Abstract

It is notable that in the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing framework (World Health Organisation 2021), an emphasis on learning in the later stages of life is lacking and not sufficiently recognised to contribute positively to a person’s well-being (Noble et al. 2021). Our presentation explores how learning contributes to healthy ageing and reinforces learning as an important aspect of the sustainably successful ageing process.
Method: The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Framework has been reviewed and its position on learning appeared to be mainly situated as skills acquisition for the workforce. Yet, analysing research in educational gerontology, we found that learning has been conceptualised as a lifelong endeavour (Findsen & Formosa 2011, Hachem 2020, Kern 2018) and that it can contribute to a person’s well-being as well as community well-being (Schoultz et al. 2020). We will present three illustrative cases of structured learning initiatives from the UK and Canada: a language learning program designed for older immigrants in Canada, a UK intergenerational somatic co-creation workshop in the context of sustainability, and a UK public educational campaign tailored to the multifaceted needs of ageing populations.
Results: By integrating the concept of well-being into thinking about learning in later life, our presentation demonstrates how inclusive, participatory approaches and co-production of tailored learning initiatives can powerfully contribute to healthy ageing across diverse groups. We conclude and argue for policy frameworks such as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing to include different learning contexts that reflect the diverse needs and experiences of older adults.

Item Type:	Conference or Conference Paper (Other)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	learning, later life
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Professional Workforce Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Health Sciences (HEA)
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2025 08:49
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/50688

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