LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND AGING - GRACE MacFARLANE & HELEN YEO


Grace MacFarlane began her professional career in music and then began to study and finally to teach the sociology of music. Grace obtained her Ph.D. at the age of 57 and spent nine years in teaching and administration before "retiring" - to learn more, she says, in the past three years than she did in the previous 15. She is the author of the Canada council Report on Aging.

Teacher, supervisor, administrator, author and broadcaster, Helen Yeo brings a wealth of experience in various aspects of education to her consideration of the needs of older women. Educated at Acadia University and Harvard Graduate School of Education, she worked on a number of innovative educational projects both within the school system and in the community and has published several textbooks and teacher's guides.

Grace MacFarlane's presentation was entitled "Meaningful Occupations for People after 65" and was composed of material abridged from the report on the topic for the Canada Council. She focused her talk on women and spoke of her research on her own experience and that of her friends aided by exploration of literary writings and some academic material. Dr. MacFarlane identified a number of skills which people develop with age, suggesting that unions should be involved in re-thinking the idea of part-time work in order to make use of such skills as a solution to some of the problems of mandatory retirement.

Helen Yeo focused on single women, that is any women alone. She looked at the results of the economic concerns of managing living expenses on a reduced income. This affects all aspects of the older woman's life as she copes with physical and mental problems as well as with social aloneness. Helen did not suggest that these problems made old age a hopeless or dismal time, but rather one which allows for continued learning and involvement.

Both presenters reminded the group that society is facing the challenge of dealing with its fastest growing minority. Research is necessary to identify needs and ways to make the declining years happier and more constructive for everyone.

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