Lifelong learning of the elderly from the biopsychosocial perspective

Currently, when rapid transformations in all aspects of human functioning are observed, education has grown in importance. People, including the elderly, continuously explore the areas and actions that can help them adjust to a new reality. Regarding both the current situation and the predicted demographic trends of modern societies, characterized by a significant increase in the number of the elderly in the general population, lifelong learning has become a vital issue. Based on the review of the latest literature, the article discusses the process of aging from two perspectives. The first one considers the challenge associated with biological, psychological, and social changes which impact both learning ability and its effectiveness while the other points to the opportunities brought by participation in activities - especially of an educational nature - in the old age. As research indicates, the process of aging itself does not pose an obstacle to engage in lifelong learning, although there is no doubt that it requires adjustments of educational methods to functional capabilities of the recipients. Moreover, it has been proved that long-term participation in non-formal, non-credit courses is a valuable strategy compensating changes resulting from the process of aging.