Education for elders in the U.S.: opportunities and challenges in the context of the demographic change

Abstract

In the next decades a societal change, caused by a continuous demographic shift, is imminent for the USA. Compared to Germany, where the birth rate is likely to stagnate at a low level, the effect of immigration into the United States is more pronounced. Here not only the proportion of elderly in the total population will increase, but also the total population itself. These developments will bring great social and political challenges that call for appropriate action. Looking at the increasing number of mature adults it is especially important to keep in mind that the remaining time after retirement is not only the rest of the life, but rather an important and distinctive life stage which can last easily 20 to 30 years.