Background

Never before has such a huge number of people swelled the ranks of retirees and elderly as we are starting to see happen now. This trend will continue over the next 30 years. As this population enjoys increasing longevity, it craves socially useful roles following retirement. At the same time, our communities have a desperate need for the skills and experience of older Americans in education, family intervention, community building and civic life.

Wider Horizons seeks to improve the attitude, options and engagement of older people. Through television, radio, the Web and new technologies, WHYY will inspire people to think creatively about later life and to become engaged in artistic pursuits, volunteer activities and educational experiences, thereby increasing the region's social capital. It aims to erase the stereotypes about growing older and about the elderly, which many older people themselves currently accept.

Wider Horizons culls content from local and national sources that will uplift and inspire, and develops original programming that will build a lifelong learning service.