Education & upskilling

2.2.1 Considerations by age group

Age 23-36

Establishing Stability and Agency is important in young adults. This stage is critical for solidifying career paths, starting families, and making foundational lifestyle choices.

This young, working-age cohort is characterized by high motivation for career advancement but faces significant time barriers due to demanding work schedules and early family responsibilities. Therefore, interventions must be intensely flexible, modular, and job-focused.

The primary health intervention here is economic empowerment; upskilling should lead directly to higher wages, as income is a critical social determinant of health.

Programs should prioritize short, intensive vocational certifications and digital literacy that provide a quick return on investment.

Crucially, they must integrate foundational health literacy—teaching skills like navigating health insurance, budgeting for health expenses, and understanding basic preventative care—alongside career training, ensuring adults establish positive health-seeking behaviours early.

Age 37-54

Chronic disease prevention and career resilience are key considerations for this age group.

Mid-life is marked by the onset of chronic health conditions and the need for career resilience against obsolescence or ageism. For this group, learning barriers often include fatigue and a lack of confidence with new technology.

Interventions must focus heavily on chronic disease self-management through advanced health literacy training. This involves educating adults on medication adherence, nutrition, symptom monitoring for conditions like hypertension or diabetes, and effective patient-provider communication.

To maintain economic stability and income, which buffers against health risks, upskilling should be delivered via blended or hybrid learning models and focus on transferable skills to secure a competitive edge and potentially extend their working years.

Age 55-70

For the pre-retirement years it is vital to maintain physical and cognitive functioning as well as transition planning for retirement.

Cognitive stimulation and physical activity become primary health interventions, recognized as essential for maintaining brain health and reducing dementia risk (WHO, 2016). Interventions should include “late-life learning”—non-vocational courses for pleasure and mental engagement—alongside functional training in areas like fall prevention and nutrition.

To counter a growing risk of social isolation, programs must also provide digital inclusion training focused on telehealth, online communication, and accessing benefits. Learning environments need to address accessibility issues like mobility and vision problems.

Age 70+

For the oldest cohort, the overriding goals are preserving quality of life, maintaining autonomy, and combating loneliness.

Social isolation is a significant mortality risk in this age group. Interventions should be primarily community-based and peer-led (e.g., at senior centers or libraries) to maximize social contact.

Educational content must focus on high-level health advocacy, training individuals on how to effectively communicate with multiple doctors, manage complex medication regimens, and advocate for their needs within the healthcare system.

Materials and technology must be designed with universal accessibility in mind—large print, simple interfaces, and low-barrier access—to accommodate physical and cognitive changes associated with advanced age.