Course Summary
Introduction - preparation week
Unit 1: The Effects Of Ageing
What it is that makes us recognisable as older persons, ways of looking at ageing and some of the characteristics of older people.
Unit 2: Quality Of Life
What older people regard as important in order to have a reasonably good quality of life, factors that affect quality of life, and societal attitudes towards ageing.
Unit 3: Positive Ageing
The concept and what it means, what people can do about the effects of ageing, the United Nations principles for older persons as they relate to independence, self-fulfilment and dignity.
Unit 4: Well Being
The concept, how older persons express their feelings of well-being, some findings from research.
Unit 5: Retirement
Why people retire, its effects on individuals and on families, on income and on health, advantages of planning for retirement.
Unit 6: Retirement Health And Income
The importance of good health, research findings on the effects of retirement on health, the importance of income, the Australian government age pension, planning strategies to improve health and well-being.
Unit 7: The Importance Of Work
Why older people work, volunteering compared with paid and unpaid work, the benefits of volunteering, need for a smooth transition from full-time paid work to retirement.
Unit 8: Participation In Voluntary Work
The value of voluntary work to the volunteer and to the country, why people do voluntary work; problems experienced by volunteers and by organisations.
Unit 9: Ageing In Perspective
Ageing of the Australian population with some comparisons with what is happening in other countries, economic implications for the country and for older people.
I am new to the retirement business having gone from full time to part time work with my employer for the past 22 years. I have now retired from that company. I am now undertaking paid work for an organisation for which I was honorary treasurer for the past 10 years. The reason being is that the organisation has grown and now requires an in house presence by an accountant for approximately one day per week. I have found the course beneficial and looking forward to continuing my education with other courses offered by U3A Online. I am also considering my options in regard to unpaid voluntary work.