HATÁR, C. 2014. Geragogics. Selected Chapters from the Theory and Methodology of Senior Education. Nitra : UKF. 110 p. ISBN 978-80-558-0666-2.
The presented publication by Assoc. Prof. PaedDr. Ctibor Határ, PhD. focuses within the field of andragogy on the issue of geragogics, dealing with the personality of the senior, aging and old age, senior education and its impact on the quality of life of seniors. The current era is characterized by a trend of population aging, which affects all areas of social life, and therefore it is important to pay due attention to seniors and actively involve them in societal affairs, with one of the options being targeted senior education, which has a significant impact on improving their quality of life. The author has addressed the topic across 110 pages, and the text is divided into five logically interconnected chapters. In addition to the chapters, the publication consists of an introduction, a conclusion, and at the end of each chapter there is a list of used and recommended literature, as well as a set of questions and tasks related to the analyzed topic. The publication serves as a university textbook.
The aim of the publication was to present the possibilities for further personal progress of seniors, especially through the tools of geragogics, which include (self)education, (self)instruction, training, counseling, etc. Contemporary society is a knowledge-based society, and therefore it is necessary to support the idea of senior education, in which various entities can participate.
The publication begins with a chapter titled A Look into the History of Senior Education, which briefly addresses the development of geragogics. The chapter is divided into two subchapters, the first of which discusses the history of residential socio-educational care for seniors and the second deals with non-residential senior education. The author mentions important national and international documents related to senior issues, international organizations striving for the development of senior education, as well as developmental trends in senior education in the 21st century.
The second chapter, titled Theoretical-Methodological Foundations of Geragogics, is divided into four subchapters, in which the author addresses the subject of geragogics research, its goals, content, tasks, the position of geragogics within the system of sciences and fields of study, and an analysis of the relationship of geragogics to other sciences and scientific disciplines.
The third chapter — Seniors as the Target Group of Geragogics, divided into four subchapters, begins with an explanation of the concept of personality (of the senior), continues with the classification of age and the periodization of senior age; the author explains the concepts of aging and old age, focusing on clarifying the differences between them. Aging manifests itself through physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects, and these can cause various adaptation problems in old age that the senior must cope with.
The content and methodology of senior education form the fourth chapter of the publication, dealing with the typology, programs, functions, and goals of senior education; the author emphasizes the importance of senior education, which clearly has an impact on improving the quality of life of seniors. In further subchapters, the author presents the content framework of senior education, defines the stages of educational work with seniors, and analyzes the principles, methods, organizational forms, and resources of senior education. At the end of the chapter, the author focuses on various limitations that occur in educational work with seniors and that need to be taken into account when working with them. The chapter is suitably supplemented with tables.
The core of the fifth chapter of the presented publication lies in characterizing selected educational institutions as well as social and healthcare facilities that participate in the education of older adults, with the author presenting an overview of facilities and institutions providing care for seniors in the Slovak Republic in a clear table.
The presented publication, through the quality of its treatment, contributes not only to strengthening the scientific credibility of geragogics but also to elevating and consolidating the position of older people in society. It is a valuable resource for all those who are concerned with the issues of geragogics, seniors, and senior education, both professionally and personally.
PhDr. Mgr. Romana Schunová Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra