Presents Continuity Theory, which holds that, in making adaptive choices, middle-aged and older adults attempt to preserve and maintain existing internal and external structures; and they prefer to accomplish this objective by using strategies tied to their past experiences of themselves and their social world. (Author)

The educational needs of elderly people (those over 60 years) around the world are examined in this paper. First, brief attention is given to the changing demographic structure in various regions of the world, and emphasis is placed on the dramatic increases in the proportion of elderly in the world's population. Particular references are made to…