Do You See What I See? Understanding Filipino Elderly's Needs, Benefits, and Expectations from an Adult Continuing Education Program

Abstract

As the elderly population increases, encouraging older adults to participate in lifelong learning has become a priority for many countries. Properly structured lifelong learning programs have consistently yielded numerous benefits to older adults; therefore, careful attention and effort should be exerted to ensure its effectiveness by involving the elderly stakeholders in the planning and implementation of these programs. This phenomenological inquiry described the various educational needs, benefits, and expectations of community dwelling Filipino elderly from a third age learning program. The results of the study provided a clearer understanding of the concerns of the elderly regarding the development of lifelong learning programs. Their responses were seen through three lenses of the Filipino elderly, collectively known as the Triadic Lenses of an Adult Continuing Education (ACED). The following are the lenses: The Lens of Needs, Lens of Benefits and Lens of Expectations. First, through the Lens of Needs which is the selling point of the program, three types of needs emerged: (a) coping needs, (b) contributive needs, and (c) cultivating needs. Second is the Lens of Benefits which provides the sailing point of the program and can be categorized into two main themes: Inner Directed and Outer Directed. Lastly, responses were seen through the Lens of Expectations, which is the sealing point of the program, two main themes were derived: Organizational Considerations and Individual Considerations. The results of this study can expectedly guide geriatric program planners in coming up with more relevant and functional third age educational programs for the elderly.