Table 4.

Challenges associated with meetings and ongoing education programs that have become more difficult with age

Challenges impacted by age-related factors	Reported reasons why each is more difficult
1. Travel to meetings and conferences	Age-related factors:
In particular:	▪ Less stamina, staying power for long distance driving
▪ Long distance and night driving to meetings	▪ Night driving:
	- Glare of lights, vision not as sharp
	- "Lots of signs, adds to confusion"
	Exacerbated by:
	▪ Ergonomics of smaller and lower cars
	▪ Tight time frames (rushing)
2. Participation in ongoing education	Age related factors:
In particular:	▪ Difficulty retaining 'new learnings'
▪ Going to educational courses	Exacerbated by:
▪ Difficulty learning new skills eg. surgical procedures	▪ Can't find time to go, can't find the time to read about courses
▪ Negative responses to older workers wanting/participating in training	▪ Locations - hard to get to (see travel difficulties)
	- Usually located hours away - time to get there and back
	- Very early leaving and very late getting back
	▪ Attitudes toward older workers showing an interest or participating in courses:
	- Offered to younger staff in preference
	- Feeling of being overlooked for courses, "you'll be retiring soon" ...but a prevailing belief it is more likely older workers will stay in a place for longer
	▪ In contrast, participants also reported that some workers "flatly refuse to go/change or learn - doggedness" (which doesn't help those who want to)
3. Hearing speech in video and teleconferencing meetings	Age related factors:
	▪ Deteriorating hearing - 'noise induced' for some
	Exacerbated by:
	▪ Nature of communication system