Exploring the optimization path of rural geriatric education under the threshold of empowerment: An empirical study in Zhejiang Province

Synchronizing the improvement of rural elders' happiness with economic and social development has become an urgent issue driving rural construction, comprehensive rural revitalization, and the decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society. The enhancement of rural elders' spiritual satisfaction, as a systematic project,requires high attention and concerted efforts for exploration and resolution. This study aims to assess the significant opportunity presented by actively responding to the aging population strategy through empowerment and enhancement, thereby optimizing the development of elderly education in rural China. This study delves into the optimization path of rural elderly education. It systematically evaluates the existing problems and development status of elderly education in rural areas, proposes improvement measures, and constructs a path for the development of rural elderly education, analyzing and assessing the current implementation status and shortcomings in sample villages. Through the comprehensive empowerment and enhancement education theory, it summarizes the optimization path for rural elderly education. Through empirical analysis result show that three key findings emerge. Firstly, cognitive needs exert a direct positive influence on the level of elderly education. The perception among the elderly regarding the necessity of elderly education significantly impacts their participation and subsequently influences the overall level of elderly education. Moreover, enhancing the elderly' s sense of self-efficacy holds considerable importance in this regard. Secondly, geographical transportation emerges as a critical determinant, positively affecting cognitive needs and the level of elderly education. Proximity to educational institutions, coupled with efficient transportation options, significantly influences the willingness of the elderly to engage in educational activities, thereby elevating the overall level of elderly education. Lastly, the quality of curriculum setting is identified as another crucial factor affecting cognitive needs and the level of elderly education. Aligning course offerings with the demands of the elderly population enhances their satisfaction with elderly education. By integrating insights from successful practices in both rural and elderly education, particularly from developed countries, this study offers a specific path for rural elderly education, thereby guiding the educational development in rural areas, such as Zhejiang Province. This paper focuses on the actual situation in Zhejiang Province and holds practical significance.