Thomas (Tom) Tate builds and designs carefully-crafted homes on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. As president and owner of Tate Builders, Thomas E. Tate supervises all phases of the design and construction process. Community involved, Thomas Tate also supports a number of nonprofit organizations, including Road Scholar.

1. PARTICIPATION
OF SENIORS IN
ROAD
SCHOLAR’S
LIFELONG
LEARNING
ThomasTate

2. Introduction
■ Thomas (Tom)Tate builds and designs carefully-crafted homes on the
island of Martha’sVineyard. As president and owner ofTate Builders,
Thomas E.Tate supervises all phases of the design and construction
process. Community involved,ThomasTate also supports a number of
nonprofit organizations, including Road Scholar.
Founded in 1975 as Elderhostel, Road Scholar arranges worldwide
experiences that introduce seniors to diverse places and peoples. In 2007,
the organization researched its clientele, placing participants into five
groups according to their interest in lifelong learning:
- Focused Mental Achievers eagerly absorb new learning, focusing on
intellectually and socially stimulating activities more than the average
American who is 55 or older.Well-educated, optimistic, and healthy, they
tend to volunteer in the community, read nonfiction books, and learn new
languages, among other goals.

3. Road Scholar’s
■ - Contented Recreational Learners also enjoy these pursuits, but
to a lesser degree.They tend to be more satisfied with life than
Focused Mental Achievers, having more relaxed attitudes and
relatively few financial concerns.
- Anxious Searchers are interested in lifelong learning, but have
significant concerns about their health and financial status.They
also tend to be less interested in travel and community service
than the above groups.
- Isolated Homebodies, as the name suggests, take few
opportunities to leave home for social contact.They generally
have lower levels of formal education and exercise less than the
above groups.

4. Conclusion
■ - Pessimists have pressing concerns about finances and health
that may interfere with educational participation. More than
the nation as a whole, they spend time gambling in casinos and
watching television.
Eighty-five percent of Road Scholar members are Focused
MentalAchievers or Contented Recreational Learners, while 11
percent areAnxious Searchers.The other 4 percent fall into the
Isolated Homebodies or Pessimist categories.