Elderhostel: Can It Work at Your Institution?

A Review and Critique of the Portrayal of Older Adult Learners in Adult Education Journals, 1980-2006

“…Formal learning, which is learning occurring in educational institutions (Merriam et al, 2007), comes across as the normative mode of programmatic offerings for older adults. Numerous articles were on Elderhostel (Brady, 1983;Burrow, 1985;Kinney, 1989;Wacks, 1989), U3A (Morris, 1984;Swindell, 1997Swindell, , 2002, and other educational institution-affiliated programs for older adults (Bass, 1992;Buchanan, 1988;Castle & Selby, 1987;Drews, 1981;Hart & Bissland, 1993;James et al, 1996;Ryan, 1985;Wilkinson, 2001;Wilkinson & Capener, 1997).…”

Older Adults in Adult Learning 1989–2020: A Literature Review

“…He briefly discussed the program’s history, summarized program participant demographics from the preceding decade (67% women, the average age is 71), the benefits to faculty and program participants, and a description of program courses offered for the 2-week summer program in 1992. Kinney (1989) reported on the benefits of Elderhostels to participants and institutions focusing on a program at the University of Toledo.…”

“…For example, Lee et al’s (2018) study on learner profile differences in Florida and the national OLLIs gives an age range of participants from 55 to 85 years old. Likewise, an article concerning Elderhostel programs set the minimum participant age at 60 (Kinney, 1989; Murk, 1994). Hentschel and Eisen’s (2002) study on developing older adults as community leaders included “third age” individuals that ranged from 48 to 88 years old.…”

“…Older adults are mostly portrayed as active with few physical limitations (Chen et al, 2008). The studies that focused on LIR or participants in OLLI describe participants as interested in the activities and courses offered (Bass, 1992; Bennet, 1992; Kinney, 1989; Lee et al, 2018; Murk, 1994; Truluck et al, 2010). In her description of teaching a philosophy course to Elderhostel participants, Bennet (1992) stated, “The enthusiasm to explore new ideas is characteristic of the Elderhostel audience and make them ideal students” (p. 21).…”

“…Of the 23 pieces, we found nine empirical articles (five qualitative and four quantitative), five of which were published in the 2010s. Categories included program reports (Bass, 1992; Bennet, 1992; Cummins et al, 2019; Golding, 2015; Hentschel & Eisen, 2002; Kinney, 1989; Lee et al, 2018; Murk, 1994; Stuen & Kaye, 1990; Truluck et al, 2010), personal reflections on learning (Horton, 2010; Knowles, 1989; Merrill, 2012), programmatic learning needs (Feldman & Sweeney, 1989; D. J. Kreitlow & Kreitlow, 1989; Thorson, 1989), classroom methods (Chamberlain & Fetterman, 1999; Wolf, 1992, 1993), and others (Helterbran, 2017; Reio & Sanders-Reio, 1999; Zacharakis, 2019).…”