Health Aspects of the Quality of Life in the Old Age in the Perspective of Social Sciences

The paper presents a theoretical analysis of the links between human health and the quality of life, referring to the period of the old age and aging. The starting point for the analysis was the systemic, holistic and salutogenetic approach to health as physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing, the level of which is determined not only by the human biology but also lifestyle and factors in the living environment. The article shows that wellbeing, which is achieved, among other things, through an active lifestyle and good living conditions, is a category uniting health and the quality of life in the subjective and objective dimensions. Given the inevitability of involutional biological changes and social inequalities in the period of aging and the old age, it was recognized that pedagogical activities aimed at improving the quality of life of seniors are a part of the educational aspects of health promotion. The purpose of “education in the old age” is to free the health potential of senior citizens by stimulating their active lifestyle, which, however, requires education to prepare people for their old age.