An observation of Museum provision for older people in the UK, in relation to a demographically changing society.
Museums have in recent years become advocates for learning and provision to a broad sphere of audiences.
A snapshot overview of 25 Museums across the UK suggests only one of these delivers regular ongoing provision specifically for older learners and that revolves around Reminiscence.The considerable amount of provision that is currently given to older people within a Museum and Gallery context focuses on lectures, tours and Reminiscence projects. Where Oral History is the collation of historical evidence in oral form, Reminiscence, although recalling the past is more about reflecting and often less accurate.Reminiscence is tried and tested. Often requiring little more than a recording device and a pot of tea.With few resources needed the outcomes often outweigh the effort and budget.
Museum market place
Recent work undertaken by the Australian Museum Audience Research Centre indicates that older people have more free time and a greater capacity to become involved in new projects; dispelling social isolation by joining groups and clubs, maintaining regular activity and communication amongst their peers.
Essentially older people are not naturally technologically minded and prefer to learn through activities that involve showing and telling. They also need basic facilities such as good seating, accessibility and most of all adequate refreshments. These may not be ground breaking revelations but at least Australia has recognised the need to be studying this shifting and evolving social group.
Silver Surfers
Like all strands of society older people fall into many different categories. Some older people are considerably more active than others and some are now able to continue work post pensionable age. There are those unable to look after themselves or require a level of care required when suffering forms of dementia or Alzheimer’s. The long term sick and terminally ill. Other residential care homes offer sheltered accommodation and communal living spaces.
There is a continued growth of what is more recently termed ‘Third Age’ and ‘Silver Surfers’. This group of older citizens are looking to develop new skills and have the time to appreciate Arts and travel and the opportunities to be gained from online engagement.
Activities for older peopleThere are strategically many more issues behind developing new and visionary programmes with and for older people. The University of the Third Age comprises over 640 groups in the UK with over 190,000 learners. In 1983 just 8 U3A groups existed. The staggering growth of these groups is a clear indication that programmes specifically organised around learning activities for the older generation are increasing.
In the early part of 2008 the The Department for Work and Pensions published a paper entitled ‘Opportunity Age – The Government strategy for an ageing society’. Essentially this is a document outlining the need to encourage older people to participate fully in society. No longer to be seen as dependents.Around the same time The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills published a document entitled Informing Adult Learning – Shaping the Way Ahead. It addresses the importance attached to focussing funding on adult learning and in particular learning for older people.
Older people have a huge contribution to make economically and socially to the UK. As a generation we are all exceeding the lifespan of our forefathers. Thus creating a genuine ‘third age’ and with it new consumers with new demands in the form of older audiences, living longer and wanting to progress further. When there is such importance placed upon Museums to be seen as cultural learning centres there seems little excuse for not participating more in the move towards engaging with older learners.
