Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

Community Assessment Tool

Education

IDENTIFYING YOUR RESOURCES

  • What is the current education level among the target population? (Aging Texas Well Benchmarks)
  • Who provides education and lifelong learning opportunities to older adults? List all.
  • Do older adults participate?
  • Which organizations provide lifelong learning opportunities?
  • Do organizations promote participation in lifelong learning activities through:
    • Tuition waivers and discounts (State Education Code 54.210b, 54.210c. 54.067 available through higher education institutions
    • Federal tax credits
    • Other incentives provided to create classes for older adults
  • Are lifelong learning opportunities available and accessible to older adults? What barriers (e.g., lack of transportation or affordability) do older adults face?
  • Do your education and lifelong learning opportunities meet the needs cited by older adults in your community?
  • Will the current lifelong learning opportunities you offer be able to meet the needs of the projected number of older adults in five, 10, or 20 years?

BUILDING YOUR COMMUNITY

  • How can you recruit and retain educators in your community?
  • What are the primary strengths of lifelong learning opportunities?
  • What are the primary gaps in lifelong learning opportunities?
  • Are the curriculum and teaching methods used in classes with older adults consistent with research on how they learn? (Research about education and older adults)
  • How can education and lifelong learning providers in your community better coordinate their services?
  • Are older adults aware of the education and lifelong learning opportunities available?
  • How do they learn about education and lifelong learning opportunities available?
  • What are the current methods of outreach to older consumers about education and lifelong learning opportunities?
  • How can outreach/awareness of education and lifelong learning opportunities be improved?
  • How can you assess the lifelong learning needs of older adults in your community?
  • Are the educational opportunities available in your community based on:
    • Age-appropriateness
    • Literacy levels
    • Race/ethnicity
    • Disability
  • Do educational opportunities in your community address language barriers for non-English speaking residents?

Back to Step 4: Assess Where your Are Today

For more information on this topic or other ATW topic areas, use the "ATW Topic" navigation menu on the left side of this page.

Updated: November 2, 2007