Op/Ed: Time for Indiana universities to join Purdue, embrace age-friendly movement

Lisa Borrero

Jimmy Carter, the longest-living U.S. president in history, recently turned 98 years old. Known for his lifelong commitment to human rights, President Carter has championed humanitarian causes well into older age, working with Habitat for Humanity into his 90s and advancing public policy causes with the Carter Center for the last 40 years.

President Jimmy Carter at a work table with another volunteer at a Habitat for Humanity build in Mishawaka, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018.

Though society continues to glorify youth and the contributions of the young, President Carter exemplifies the reality that old age is a prime period in which to grow, learn and contribute. It’s time to change the narrative about aging and the perceived value of older adults in our communities. One key way in which we can move the needle on this issue right here in Indiana is to harness the potential of higher education by embracing the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network. Purdue joined the AFU Network in 2019. Should other Indiana colleges choose to follow suit, it would be well worth their while.  

Aligned with the World Health Organization’s age-friendly movement, the AFU Global Network was founded in 2012 at Dublin City University in response to the needs of a growing aging population. The movement prioritizes intergenerational exchange, lifelong learning and enhanced aging education on university campuses. Institutions can be designated as AFUs by committing to 10 principles that underscore the importance of creating a more equitable, age-inclusive society. Universities in the AFU Global Network elevate the “age-friendliness” of their practices by encouraging the participation of older adults in their university’s key activities, including educational opportunities, arts and cultural events, and research. The AFU Global Network highlights the important role that educational institutions can play to promote understanding across generations by serving as environments of growth for people of all ages.

Now in its second decade, over 100 institutions worldwide have been designated age-friendly universities. It’s high time for other institutions to join the charge and make their unique mark on the movement. Examples of great work being done at AFUs include the University of Manitoba’s intergenerational photovoice research that resulted in an AFU resource hub. At the University of Queensland, Australia, an “Ageism Awareness” module for staff and students was added to their diversity, equity and inclusion programming, and public-facing spaces have been certified “Dementia Inclusive.” Wichita State University laid a foundation by mapping the 10 AFU principles to the university's strategic goals to identify age-friendly strengths and gaps in their practices.

The AFU principles are backed by research, in particular, the fourth principle focusing on intergenerational learning. Studies have shown that both older and younger people benefit from intergenerational engagement. Given that learning and development is a lifelong process, intergenerational interactions within the context of higher education promote understanding between people from different generations while expanding collective knowledge.

I have seen this first hand. I have led class projects pairing traditionally-aged college students with older adult learners and had them work collaboratively toward a common educational goal. In one course, undergraduate students worked alongside older adult learners on a project called, “Social Issues of the 1960s: An Intergenerational Dialogue.” Small groups of younger and older learners analyzed key social issues of that decade, with older learners using the perspective of their lived histories and younger learners drawing upon learned history. In these sessions, younger students marveled at the lived histories of the older learners, including their involvement in political marches, playing in folk music groups and recounting events of the era, like the assassination of JFK. Likewise, older learners enjoyed the rapport with younger students, learning from their perspectives and working together on shared activities. AFU institutions can make these kinds of experiences a priority for students and older adults in their communities.

Intergenerational interactions made possible by AFU institutions are beneficial outside the classroom, too. Research has shown that people who engage in intergenerational activities experience higher life satisfaction, better physical, cognitive and mental health, and an improved sense of belonging. Both generations also experience reduced age discrimination and a sense of connectedness with those from different age groups.

Beyond personal benefits, AFU designation also engages and benefits university communities. Older adults engaged with higher education bolster enrollments, increase an institution’s visibility, and reinforce the relevance of these institutions in their communities. As Dublin City University’s website makes clear, the participation of older adults in a university’s activities boosts its “social and economic capital.” It truly is a win-win.

Certainly, educational institutions must prepare younger people to serve as leaders of tomorrow, but current demographic trends also warrant a commitment to a student population that is increasingly age-diverse. More than ever, older people are delaying retirement and looking to higher education to advance their credentials, pursue later-life careers and participate in lifelong learning. Given these realities, current assumptions of who universities should serve and how they should serve them are becoming increasingly antiquated.

In the spirit of a healthier population in which both young and old are valued, it makes sense to begin with education ― a sector in which a positive societal impact over time is a fundamental goal. Other institutions in Indiana need to join Purdue and lay the groundwork for age-friendly university designation ― setting the stage for a statewide network of institutions to share information and explore age-friendly partnerships. Given the obvious benefits of intergenerational exchange, a commitment to the Age-Friendly University Global Network makes good sense for us all. In the end, we will all be old(er) one day ― if we’re lucky.

Lisa Borrero

Lisa Borrero is an associate professor in the Department of Interprofessional Health and Aging Studies at the University of Indianapolis and a Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project