A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING OLDER ADULTS CIVIC BEHAVIOR

We present contemporary, historical, and literary evidence of civic le arning and action in senior citizens' lives and suggest a framework fo r understanding seniors' various levels of involvement in civic activi ties. A seven-stage civic involvement continuum emerged from real inte rviews with living older adults and simulated interviews with fictiona l and historical older adults. The continuum began with the fulfillmen t of basic needs through volunteering and ended with becoming an advoc ate of a specific cause. Implications for adult education practice are suggested.