ADULTS' SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING OF THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY AND COMMUNICATIVE INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Today, the average life span in Japan is about 80 years, Many older adults live long after retirement. However, it is difficult for most people to be healthy and active in old age. The problem of the quality of life in old age is of increasing concern, and adult education to improve the elderly's quality of life has become widespread in Japan. I describe educational programs for younger adults on older adults' quality of life, because the subject of elderly people's quality of life must be understood from the viewpoint of communicative relationships between the older and younger generations. From the perspective of Erikson's theory of adult development that occurs in life cycles and generational cycles, I report on three types of adult education programs on care of the elderly in Japan: adult health education in Matsukawa Town, learning components of volunteer activities in Akita City, and adult learning and mutual support systems of the Seikatsu Club Consumers' Cooperative. I explain the correlation between the self-directedness of the learners and communication with the elderly in these three programs.