Older adults can take classes locally that are designed with them in mind. From culinary arts to fashion and design to wellness, Santa Barbara City College’s School of Extended Learning has it.
“Classes are intentionally designed with older learners in mind,” said Rachel Walsh, the School of Extended Learning’s director. “For example, wellness courses focus on balance, flexibility, and fall prevention. Brain health, art, music, theatre, and discussion-based classes emphasize cognitive engagement and social interaction. We also offer technology courses that help older adults build confidence using smartphones, email, and online tools to stay connected with family and services.”
And to sweeten the deal, every class is offered tuition-free, meaning learners don’t have to pay for any of them. As part of California’s public community college system, the school’s noncredit programs are funded by a number of sources, including the state, adult education funding, and local district support, Walsh said.
“This funding model allows us to remove cost as a barrier and make lifelong learning accessible to the entire community,” she said.
The older adults program has been part of the School of Extended Learning for decades, with long-standing initiatives like the Vitality Program — classes at independent, assisted, and memory care facilities that adult children are also invited to attend — that supports healthy aging, lifelong learning, and social connection for older members of the community.
“As Santa Barbara’s population has grown older, the program has continued to evolve to meet the intellectual, physical, and social interests of adults in later life stages,” Walsh said.
That’s because classes provide more than educational enrichment: Lifelong learning supports brain health, memory, and cognitive function. Classes focused on current events, writing, art, music, and everyday technology skills keep older students engaged while they explore new interests or rediscover passions. The goal isn’t tests or grades; it’s promoting curiosity, growth, and the joy of learning in a supportive environment.
“This program plays an important role in reducing social isolation and supporting overall well-being,” Walsh said. “Many students tell us their classes give them structure, purpose, and a strong sense of belonging.”
In a time when loneliness is a growing concern for older adults nationwide, the classes offer a vital sense of community. Whether it’s contributing to a lively discussion group or mastering a new skill, participants remain active contributors in vibrant learning groups.
After all, having places to go, people to see, and new things to learn each week make profound differences in overall well-being. In practice, that means people show up for the classes and stay for the friendships.
Learners also report that classes boost their confidence and give them direction during retirement and later life. For example, the rhythm-based mobility instructor has received some promising reviews from students learning world folk dance, Walsh said:
- “I am just starting to move again after cancer treatment.”
- “This is the first exercise I’ve done in 15 years because of multiple surgeries.”
- “I’m 82, but I sure had a good time. I’ll be back next week.”
While anyone 18 or older can enroll, the program is designed for those 55 and up, with no upper age limit. The classes are as diverse as the students themselves, and there is no need for any previous academic experience. Learn more and register on our website.
