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Preliminary Recommendations (from Policy Papers)
Rather than ask the question, "What will we do with all these old people, ask
"What will we do with all these resources?"
- Conduct brainstorming sessions
Higher education is known as the center of innovation and new ideas. When students and older adults put their heads together about the needs of the aging population and those of education, meaningful new solutions will be found.
- Information Systems and Connectivity
Universities and community colleges can help social service agencies provide connectivity and information systems for their region to help residents with access to the information they need.
- Support a Volunteer Network
Higher education should support a volunteer network, which is a partnership between education, business, social services, aging agencies, and retirement communities and that links all generations in doing the work of the community
- Involve Retirees before Retirement
Pre-retirement assessments of retiree interests and talents should be part of the retirement process.
- Advocacy for Education
Explore the potential for a retirees group to advocate for education.
- Inventory of Retiree Interests
Engage all stakeholders (retirees, schools, community members, business, & educational organizations) in identifying what the retired community can offer.
- P-20+ Dialogue
Convene a yearly P-20+ gathering that promotes communication between all levels of education and instructs participants about experiences and progress of each level of education: early learners, preschool, grade school, middle school, high school, community colleges and universities.
- Technology
Every high school and middle school should have a technology training program for the community's retirees.
- Aging and Education
Education and aging organizations must foster closer connections. Align the needs and opportunities of aging in Illinois and with those of education.
- Lifelong Pipeline
Create an additional Illinois Educational Pipleine that portrays the beginnings from 0 to 3 and continues to the end of the lifespan.
- Understanding Aging
Education at all levels should include aging concepts in the curriculum, in math science, English, literature, social sciences, biology across the curriculum.
- Develop age-friendly communities
Education should be a key partner in developing age-friendly communities and at the same time enriching the curriculum with the experience and wisdom of older adults.
- Communicate and Publicize
Aging and educational leaders in communities, regions, and the state should meet to discuss the future and how they can share their needs and resources. The media has a critical role to play in the publicity of the process and how ordinary citizens can be involved.
- Establish Connectivity
Universities and community colleges can help social service agencies provide connectivity and information systems for their region to help residents with access to the information they need.
- Geriatric Training
Perhaps one of the most important tasks and opportunities for higher education is to train geriatric specialists in all disciplines, nurses, doctors, technicians, --in reality, all health care providers because an increasing number of their clients will be 65 and older.
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