The following work outlines an analysis of education initiatives aimed at the elderly. It examines the characteristics of the old aged learner, his/her "educability" and the foundations for an educational approach for this age group. These theoretical assumptions form the basis of this research: an exploratory study into various educational and training environments offered to the elderly. The analysed approaches suggest characteristics and means of understanding the multiple facets of the research subject, whilst the research findings allow us to understand certain aspects of the educational contexts which the elderly learner encounters, in order to delineate a didactic approach for old age. (Contains 4 tables, 4 figures and 14 notes.)