Learning is lifelong, and you are never too old to stop learning. That is the philosophy behind the City College of San Francisco’s Older Adults Department.
This department provides free classes for older adults in a number of areas, including music appreciation, photography, computers, sculpture, painting, ceramics, sewing, quilting, women’s literature, exercise, tai chi, mind/body health, and theater. The classes are intended for those who are 55 and older, but no one is turned away due to his or her age.
These free classes enable older adults to gain new knowledge and skills, combat isolation and create friendships with other older adults they would not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.
Lee Ellen Shoemaker — a photographer who holds a master’s degree in instructional design — teaches a class named “Art and Photography Using Digital Media” at CCSF’s downtown campus in a lab equipped with 27 computers. Typically between 50 and 63 older adults participate.
“I think that using art and something connected with art and computers is a great way to help seniors get over their fear of technology,” Shoemaker noted. “It’s because they didn’t grow up with it.”
Shoemaker added, “Seniors pick it up quickly. You break it down in smaller parts. They want it so much. They are so enthusiastic and appreciative. They are happy to be there. I love doing this. It’s a really wonderful place in my life. It’s really a joy.”
Some come back year after year, semester after semester, while others are new.
Dee Thelemaque, 78, and her husband Louis, 84, have taken Shoemaker’s class for a number of years.
“She’s a wonderful teacher,” Dee Thelemaque said. “She’s a great teacher. She has a lot of patience because a lot of people can’t keep up. She makes us feel happy to get to class each week because of the way she teaches.”
Dee Thelemaque said she has gotten a lot out of the class. She has learned how to do things with her photos technology-wise. “I feel a lot more confident with the Photoshop programs,” she said.
Dee Thelemaque said that she also has gotten to learn more about her camera and how to get a better picture with it. Additionally, she has learned more about the technology needed to make greeting cards, which she does as a hobby.
“It keeps us more aware of technology and what’s out there,” she said of the class. “We’re not as ignorant as we were before. We can interact with our children and grandchildren better.”
Dee Thelemaque further added, “It’s [participating in the class is] good for the mind. One can easily stay at home at all times and never go out. That’s not the life we want. We want to be a little more active.”
Louis Thelemaque, a retired engineer, said one of the benefits to him of taking the class is that he has been able to learn about photo restoration. He has also helped his son with graphics on his son’s website, something he could not have done if he had not taken the class. “Photoshop Elements allows you to do a lot of work with graphics in novel ways I was never familiar with,” he said.
Harry Bernstein — who holds a master’s degree in musicology from the University of Chicago and plays in the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony — said that he teaches a music appreciation class that covers music of Western civilization, including ballet, opera, symphony, concert music, voice and piano, orchestra chamber and full orchestra.
People of a variety of ages attend, Bernstein explained. Currently his oldest student is age 102.
During the summer, Bernstein teaches on Tuesday mornings at The Sequoias retirement home in San Francisco. During the fall, he teaches at The Sequoias on Tuesday mornings; as well at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco on Wednesday mornings; and the Vintage Golden Gate, an independent and assisted living facility, on Thursdays.
“Music is about emotion and expressing emotion and how listening to it affects you,” Bernstein said. “I want people to have a greater openness to the wide variety of music, how the music makes them feel, what is the language of music, to not be afraid of something they don’t know. I want to give them some facts, some context, some idea of why music is important to them.”
Jan Robbins teaches an exercise and relaxation class and wellness exercise class. Her classes include meditation, weights, dance aerobics, stretch bands and yoga. “A huge benefit of the class is socialization,” Robbins said. “They meet each other and talk. They socialize, even during the class.”
Robbins further added, “It’s uplifting. Not only is the exercise uplifting, but the socialization makes them uplifted. They truly feel so much better. They feel better after … I know I do. They can learn and they want to learn. It’s very uplifting. The ones who come and stick to it are rewarded.”
Participants in her class vary in age from 55 to their late 80s. “There is such a stigma against older adults,” she said. “Older adults can do an amazing amount of work if given the opportunity. They try. They try to do it.”
By participating in Robbins’ classes, older adults get stronger and stay healthier. “I have seen people make extraordinary progress,” Robbins said. “People who stick to it, who come consistently, they benefit the most, the most dramatically.”
Beverley Bender teaches a class called “The Art of Storytelling.” She said that participants talk about such things as what it was like for them growing up, how their parents came to the U.S., their pets, and their favorite teacher.
“Everybody has a story and they are so interesting, all these people,” Bender said. “It’s getting them to stand up in front of a group and talk.” Participants are encouraged to tell their story in class and then tell their children.
Bender’s students tell stories to elementary school children. This is very positive, because some children do not have their grandparents nearby, and older people often have limited, or practically no interaction with children, Bender pointed out. It helps bring the two generations together, she said.
“A lot of seniors are isolated,” explained Bender, who holds a master’s degree in gerontology. “They don’t go out very much. It enables them. This gives them a purpose. The camaraderie is really good.”
Bender teaches her class at the Stonestown YMCA. She is also going to be teaching at the San Francisco Main Library this fall.
”It’s just a nice diverse thing,” Benton said. “I believe in continuing education. I’ll take classes forever. I’m definitely for continuing education. You can’t ever stop learning.”
CCSF’s Older Adult Department has been around for about thirty years, according to Bender. Bender and other instructors emphasized that similar to all other areas of education in California, the department has been hit with budget cuts.
Each class needs to have at least 20 people or the department’s funding gets cut. The department has slowly been shrinking and will be in jeopardy if tax increases are not passed in November.
“It’s’ a really good program,” Bender said. “Hopefully they will keep it. I always get mad when they cut back on education. What’s going to keep this country great is education. What this country needs is more unemployed politicians.”
More information can be found about senior learning programs at the City College of San Francisco at the following website: http://www.ccsf.edu/NEW/en/educational-programs/ccsf-catalog/courses-by-department/olad-courses.html.
ADDENDUM:
Would you like to learn about brain health?
The Brain Fitness Series — a free 4-week class taught by Hope Levy, an instructor in City College of San Francisco’s Older Adult Department — will enable you to do just that.
The class will be held the first four Mondays in July from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St.
- July 2: Maintaining Your Brain
- July 9: Elder Wisdom Circles: Empower Yourself And Transform Others By Sharing Your Wisdom
- July 16: Flourishing as We Age
- July 23: Explore Your Creativity with Emelle Sonh
“We [the library and the Older Adult Department] have similar missions, and they’re really trying to reach out to the older adults community,” Levy explained.
The class takes a holistic approach to brain activity. “We look at creativity,” Levy said. “We look at maintaining your brain health. The brain is like any muscle in the body. You have to use it or lose it. If you stay physically, mentally and socially engaged, it creates vitality as you get older and is good for brain health.”
Levy noted, “The class is a lot of fun. It’s held more like a workshop than a class. People say that no matter what, they learn in class. They love the social aspect of it. When they get involved in a class like this, it adds more meaning to life. It adds more zest to life.”
Levy added, “It’s a very well-received and popular class. People come repeatedly to different series. I’ve gotten kind of a following. It’s a learning community. It’s a social outlet for people, which is really important, especially as you get older.”
To Enroll: Simply attend the class, and fill out a registration form on site. If you would like additional information please contact Hope Levy at 415.931.8679 or hopelevy@yahoo.com.
The Instructor: Hope Levy has over twenty years teaching experience, and is formerly the Acting Chairperson of the Older Adults Department at City College of San Francisco. She holds an MA in Gerontology and an MA in Special Education from San Francisco State University. Through her work, Hope promotes positive aging through her passion for lifelong learning.
The Older Adults Department of City College sponsors this class in partnership with The San Francisco Public Library. The Older Adults Department of City College offers classes designed for adults 55 years old or better, though all are welcome to attend. All classes are FREE.
