Consumer information for older learners: A framework for program development

Abstract

Effective development and dissemination of information for older consumers necessitates consideration of the older individual as learner and consumer within a larger interacting system. A framework for assessing the needs of the older learner/consumer is proposed. Recognition of the physiological and psychological characteristics of the elderly individual as both consumer and learner is the first dimension of the framework. The second dimension places the individual in context by exploring the impact upon older learners and consumers of components of the technological and social‐psychological systems. The final dimension of the framework emphasizes the importance of an and ragogical approach to the actual teaching process. A description of the research project from which the framework evolved is presented.