6 Ways to Continue Your Education in Your Senior Years

About Brookdale Senior Living

Brookdale Senior Living offers multiple care levels for seniors in more than 600 communities nationwide. Brookdale helps you find the right care plan for yourself or your loved one. With amenities such as transportation services, salons and private dining rooms and activities such as gardening, fitness classes and trivia nights Brookdale caters to a wide range of interests and needs.

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Studies have indicated that seniors who continue the practice of lifelong learning can better sustain their psychological well-being. But learning something new doesn't have to mean hours of homework. There are many self-paced ways to help you to gain a new skill and build your knowledge — whether it's through personal enrichment classes, online LinkedIn Learning options, or courses at the local community college

Check out these creative ways seniors can pursue knowledge at little to no cost and often without a demanding commitment.

Go Back to College

Local community colleges often offer personal enrichment courses in art, photography, decorating, meditation, creative writing, cooking and more to help you develop your untapped talent. To get started, look up your local colleges to see what's offered near you.

If you're interested in a more traditional classroom setting for learning, check out your local universities or colleges to see if you can audit courses. Many schools will offer seniors the chance to learn in class for either a nominal fee or completely free.

Get Your GED Online

If you didn't get the chance to earn your high school diploma, it's never too late to achieve that dream. Options like the U.S. Career Institute offer online, self-paced options with all-inclusive programs. Ensure that whatever option you choose to pursue a GED has state-recognized, accredited courses that will count toward your diploma.

MasterClass

With MasterClass, you can learn from some of the world's most inspiring artists and leaders from the comfort of home. This online video learning platform has over 110+ expert instructors on 11 different subjects ranging from arts, entertainment and music to food, science and tech.

While this option does cost a subscription fee starting at $15/month, where else can you get lessons from icons like Margaret Atwood, Wolfgang Puck, former President Bill Clinton, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson?

LinkedIn Learning Courses

Even if you're retired, you can still stay up-to-date on the latest digital trends. Using LinkedIn Learning, you can flex your learning ability by taking courses led by industry experts in business, technology and creative fields. From learning the basics of how to work with computers and devices to exploring how to use After Effects for motion graphics or getting tips and tricks on using an Apple Watch, LinkedIn Learning offers courses on a wide variety of topics that range from beginner to advanced.

While this option has a subscription fee ranging from $26.99/month to $39.99/month, you can test the service with a one-month free trial before committing. Similar online learning service platforms include Skillshare, Coursera and Udemy.

Engage With Senior Planet

For virtual social engagement that will get you thinking, seniors can get involved with Senior Planet from AARP. This free-to-join platform has recurring live discussions on planned lectures where you can make new friends across the country. Join their online panels for weekly book club meetups, legacy podcast discussions and much more.

Volunteer in Your Community

Another great, free way for seniors to learn new skills and meet new people is through volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations. Most nonprofit organizations need assistance on an ongoing basis and offer training opportunities to help volunteers learn the skills they need depending on the service they are providing. Seniors can use sources like United Way to find local volunteer events where they can learn something new while making a positive difference in their community.

Ready to dive into a new skill but not sure where to start? Try this guide on how to take better photos with your phone camera — a skill you can start showing off with just a few steps.