The literature was studied to investigate some of the significant factors that affect participation of older persons (aged 60 and over) in educational programs. Focuses of the literature review were economic and geographic background; educational gerontology; the learning environment; physical, physiological and psychological characteristics; and sociological and cultural profiles. Reasons for low-level participation of older persons were cost, inconvenience, transportation problems, and attitudes toward self, education, and educational institutions. The research recommended that education provide for lifelong learning and opportunity for flexible participation and account for prior nonacademic learning experiences. Recommendations for the learning environment included compensations for vision and hearing loss, learning aids, and teaching in the affective domain. The literature suggested that as the older segment of the population grows and increasing numbers of them participate in all forms of educational programs, the negativism about older persons and aging must be eliminated and opportunities must be created to make older learners' participation in higher education less visible and more normal. (The bibliography contains 14 pages.) (YLB)