The Family Life Education Needs of Midlife and Older Adults^*

Abstract

Using a life course perspective, we report the findings from a needs assessment for midlife and older adults regarding family life education. A sample of 264 adults aged 50 and older indicated interest in 29 family life education topics. The highest rated topics were nutrition and health, fitness and exercise, and positive aspects of aging. Overall, results from age and gender comparisons suggested that midlife adults (50-64) were more interested in family life education topics than were older adults (65ϩ) and that women were more interested than men.

Family, Know Thyself: A Workbook-Based Intergenerational Intervention to Improve Parent Care Coordination

“…They were eager to participate in the intervention and enthusiastic about completing information that was collated in their family's workbook. The enthusiasm noted in this sample parallels the interest Ballard & Morris (2003) found among middle-aged and older people for information and education on family communication and relationships. It is worth noting, of course, that our convenience sample of self-selected, relatively homogeneous volunteers may not be representative of all families.…”

Talking to healthcare providers about sex in later life: Findings from a qualitative study with older Australian men and women

“…This approach focuses on the ways in which participants construct meaning (in conversation with the interviewer), rather than seeking to reveal some underlying, essential ‘truth’ . Additionally, a life course perspective informed our work, which positions participants' experiences within their particular social, cultural and historical contexts . Drawing on the work of Calasanti et al , we sought to examine the experiences of participants as older people , and the ways in which age intersects with other social categories such as gender and sexuality in shaping lived‐experience and possibilities for action.…”

Happiness in Midlife Parental Roles: A Contextual Mixed Methods Analysis

“…Ideally, both generations should be included in some programs and in counseling because there is a tendency to focus on the intergenerational needs of younger families. Overall, family life educators in tandem with advances made in educational gerontology should strive to target and strengthen programming for midlife and older adults in order to meet the unique learning needs of this population (e.g., see Ballard & Morris, 2003).…”