Abstract

Polish demographic forecasts appear a picture of an aging population, which translates into severe social consequences. Many factors condition the aging process, and a vital role in this process is played by the psycho-social factors, lifestyle, and health. Conceptualization of the idea of the quality of life used in the social and medical sciences, both in its subjective and objective dimension, is essentially derived from understanding health and its determinants. So, it could be argued that health deficiencies based on advances in physiological aging and increased morbidity in this lifetime have a significant influence on older people's quality of life. Among the personal and environmental resources for health and quality of life of older people, particular importance should be attributed to their activity, which is treated as an essential component of lifestyle and social support experience. In this context, health promotion, which is related not only to senior's health education but also connected with the strategies referring to the social determinants of health and quality of life, poses a challenge for pedagogic practice focus on the seniors. In our opinion, the promotion of health should be an essential part of education in old age - aimed at triggering the health potential of aged man by shaping his motivation and competencies to undertake widely understood activity. What is more, it is crucial to focus on education in old age, which means considering young people's healthy lifestyle as a resource for health in old age and shaping stereotypes of old age that are appropriate to reality. The last idea is education for the elderly - aimed at encouraging and motivating young people to make an effort to prepare for working with older people.