Learning should never end

The benefits of learning extend throughout our entire lifetime and go way beyond alleviating age-related loss of brain function. Engaging in active learning provides a means for remaining actively involved in the community, for developing new interests and for keeping up with younger generations. In short, people feel healthier, happier, more respected and more independent when they pursue active learning in their senior years.

A recent poll by The Canadian Network on Third Age Learning revealed that over 60,000 older adults are actively involved in lifelong learning programs. Many educational institutions are responding to the learning needs of the growing population of learning-inclined seniors. Credited and non-credited courses, seminars, workshops and learning tours are currently offered in Canada, with Montreal being no exception.

The McGill Institute for Learning in Retirement (MILR) is one such example of an incredible resource for seniors in our community. MILR is a volunteer organization under the aegis of the McGill Centre for Continuing Education and is based on the idea of peer learning and teaching. What’s more, MILR also has a program on the West Island at Macdonald campus, so West-Islanders have the opportunity to participate in MILR without even going downtown. The membership of $85 entitles you to register for up to two study groups at Macdonald or downtown.

To give readers a taste, here are just some of the courses offered: Postwar Italy: Mess or Success? Great Canadian Authors, Foods in History: Fights, Blight and Appetite, A Month in Southern Tuscany, Mary Todd Lincoln: Madwoman or Martyr? Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? Women of Power from Cleopatra to Victoria. For more information on MILR you can access their website: www.mcgill.ca or call 514-398-8234.

The reality today is that more and more seniors are taking advantage of their retirement to study subjects of interest to them that they never had time for during their years in the workforce. These might include fitness programs, art and music classes, craft and cultural activities, as well as academic endeavours (both credit and non-credit courses).

At Volunteer West Island, through their Super Senior Club, they offer on-site classes in Acrylic Painting, Internet and Basic Computer, Tai Chi, Light Exercise & Basic Stretching, Square Dancing, and Beginner Bridge, as well as social programs like the monthly Seniors' Café and the weekly Brunch & Bingo. Their outreach program includes Origami and Line Dancing. This past summer they had classes in Square Dancing and Japanese Calligraphy as well. For more information on what they offer, you can contact them at 514-457-5445.

Understanding that no one is ever too old to learn is the basis for pursuing lifelong learning. How seniors perceive themselves, their abilities and their goals has a significant impact on their willingness to pursue lifelong learning. Support from family and the community can also enhance senior learning. Family members can provide emotional and practical support to help seniors overcome barriers to learning, and communities can help seniors by developing specialized services, such as geriatric assessment programs, and by providing accessible learning opportunities.

Studies have proven that age-related brain function loss is not a necessary outcome of aging: the effects of changes within the brain can be moderated by environmental factors, such as intellectual stimulation.

Seventy-one year old D.D.O resident, George Lapa, is the perfect poster child for learning in retirement. The Latvian-born retired engineer is taking advantage of his retirement to focus on topics he had little time to delve in during his working life. For the past six years at MILR he has been taking courses in religion, history and the arts, learning from his peers and enjoying researching the assigned topics at his local library and on the internet.

“I’ve been actively learning all my life and there’s no reason to stop now,” he tells the Chronicle. “MILR is open to people from all walks of life; not just university graduates,” he adds.

When he’s not studying about the Middle Ages, George volunteers at West Island Volunteer, where, for the past nine years, he’s been one of the key people to go to for computer support and troubleshooting, according to community relations coordinator, Kathleen Greenfield.

And if that weren’t enough, George has also decided to learn how to play an instrument in his later years. For the past 6 years George has been taking lessons with West Island teacher Salah Wilson, learning how to play the steelpan.

“About 40 years ago, I travelled to Trinidad and was fascinated by the wonderful warm sounds of the steelpan, but never had the time to learn. Now I do,” he says smiling.”

Beaconsfield resident Eric Wheeler has been paddling for over 50 years and at the age of 65 shows no signs of slowing down. Wheeler, who is a member of the Canadian Grand Dragons, a national dragonboat team for paddlers 50 years and older, but with an average age closer to 60, admits to training harder now than he’s ever trained in his life. The competitive athlete just returned from the World Dragonboat Championships in Prague with a number of gold medals as reward for his hard work. His wife also competed and medalled with the Canadian women’s team.

“We had to fight for our lives in a few races against Russia, USA and Poland, but we won gold in all finals,” he proudly told the Chronicle. “It has been a wonderful experience, travelling all over the world, meeting athletes from other countries and racing against ex-national team paddlers. Watching our flag go up and singing our anthem over and over is a downright thrill, even at an older age.”