From the article:

  most have education debt taken out on behalf of their children or grandchildren

I do not think you read the article. The article is specifically cites two reasons for debt woes: older people becoming co-signers of their kids' or grandkids' loans, and being unable to pay off student debt that they themselves took out decades ago.

It says nothing about training, or older people gaining new skills and taking on new debt for themselves.

I see your point. But it is like if you say that if someone is shot while buying healthy food is good in a way, because he was shopping healthy food. Not false, but worth a deeper discussion. ;)