Older people in care should be offered more learning activities to help improve their health and quality of life, according to a report out today.

The report, by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), has been published to coincide with UK Older People's Day.

It is part of a wider project, Enhancing Informal Learning in Care Settings, which aims to improve the wellbeing of older people in care and help and encourage care staff to support learning activities.

Funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the report highlights 10 examples of existing practice and sets out the challenges in providing more learning activities to older people in care settings.

One of the case studies featured is Learning for the Fourth Age (L4A), a non-profit social enterprise, that offers learning to residents of care homes across the country, through one-to-one sessions.

Residents are offered personal learning mentors and learning activities are designed to suit individuals' interests and are complemented with materials to use between sessions.

Activities range from theology to Russian language to inter-generational learning with elderly residents passing their skills to younger learning mentors.

One resident who took part in a L4A programme said: "I used to think that my days of learning were over 30 years ago!"

Other residents said they looked forward to the sessions every week, with one commenting: "I enjoy everything - it's stimulating conversation. We talk about all kinds of things."

L4A also offers ongoing support for its network of trained volunteers who deliver the learning.

Kevin Brennan, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Consumer Affairs, said: "For many older people participation in learning is a rewarding social activity that can also benefit people's health and quality of life.

"I welcome the report as a sign of our continuing commitment to opening up access to learning for everybody in our society."

Fiona Aldridge, NIACE programme director for research, said: "People in the UK are living longer than ever before. The number of people reaching the age of 85 is likely to double by 2026.

"So it is now more important than ever to look at improving learning opportunities for older people in care, as it can greatly improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

"This interim report highlights some serious challenges, however, through working together with policy-makers and sector organisations, learning providers and voluntary organisations, as well as with managers and staff working on the ground we can revolutionise learning in care settings."

An online forum has also been created on the Learning Revolution website to capture thoughts and ideas on learning for older people in care settings. The contributions will be included best practice toolkit to be published next year.

To contribute, go to http://thelearningrevolution.ning.com/group/olderpeople.

NIACE is a non-government organisation that exists to encourage more and different adults to engage in better-quality learning of all kinds. It campaigns for, and celebrates the achievements of, all adult learners. For more information visit www.niace.org.uk.