The study relates to the relationship between the wellbeing of elderly people and their will to continue learning and to set satisfactory social relationships. The first part concerns the reconstruction of the theoretical framework of the aging process, delt in parallel with the issue of lifelong learning that are overall indispensable tools for individual and social growth. The twenty-first century society is undergoing a global and unstoppable process of aging of the population. The challenge of today's society is to redefine and re-qualify the figure and the role of the elderly, which from marginal citizens must become a resource for their communities. This challenge is a priority also in the economic and social programs of the European Countries, which have designated 2012 as "European Year for active aging" . The elderly is now primarily the bearer of its own peculiarities which should be developed and strengthened through educational processes that become facilitators forhis personal growth and for the recruitment of its new roles in society. Following the above premises, an exploratory survey has been made taking into consideration two representative associations in Carpi (an Emilia Romagna town), which are in charge of permanent adult education and of facilitating the elderly socialization and their access to cultural education. The two institutions are the University of the Third Age Mario Gasparini Casari, and the ANCeSCAO, a national association that coordinates, on the territory, 7 community centers. The goal was to show how the participation in recreational, social and cultural activities, contributes to the elderly wellbeing and it increases self-esteem and self-efficacy. The main feedback was, "the more you know, the more you feel young". This predisposition to lifelong learning becomes an antidote against the process of thought decay and resignation, factors that may cause people to renunciation and social alienation.