Welcome to

"Your Health Marketplace"!

This self-directed online resource has been designed in response to the results of the 2006-08 Sheridan Elder Research Centre (SERC) study exploring the learning needs, interests and learning styles of Ontarians 65+. The study was funded by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL).

Through the study, you told us the following:

• Learning about health is your primary learning interest. 83.5% of people age 65-76 and 80.4% of individuals age 77-98 cited health as their primary area of interest.
• Among others, scheduling, health (vision, hearing, mobility), cost, transportation and location of learning opportunities can be barriers to formal learning.
• 20% of those who responded to our survey said they would be 'very likely' to access the Internet, 25.7% indicated they would find someone who shares interests and 30.5% said they would use a local library or organized resources.

We listened to your voices and have developed 'Your Health Marketplace' to respond to your interests and to address access barriers. Please visit the marketplace at times of your convenience without being concerned about cost, time of day or building constraints! We know you are committed to lifelong learning - one study participant put it this way “Learning contributes to my health. To keep on learning means you are involved in living and are still capable. Perhaps it makes you an interesting person to be around” - and we are committed to providing accessible learning opportunities.

We hope this online resource will help you to learn more about the many factors that influence your health and well being. This is your personal marketplace. Please visit it often and don't hesitate to provide us with feedback about how to make it more meaningful for you.

Pat Spadafora
Director, SERC
Email: pat.spadafora@sheridanc.on.ca
Tel: (905) 845-9430, extension 8615