Družbena uporabnost socialne gerontologije / Application of social gerontology in society: edited by Jana Goriup, Goran Gumze, Peter Seljak

This scientific monograph Družbena uporabnost socialne gerontologije / Application of social gerontology in society deals with the processes of aging and the old age, health and disease in the last period of a human life, while at the same time also addressing the content and paths of active and productive aging from various aspects. It thus immanently actualizes issues of growing importance of awareness and realization of the importance of age and health in the postmodern society, as well as active, productive, working and healthy lifestyle and the fight against disease in the light of sustainable development of the elderly.

Authors, dealing with different aspects of old people's lives, are aware of the importance of the necessary cooperation and intergenerational intertwining of work and life and between the older generation and other generations, relatives, health professionals, as well as the wider social environment. In the light of the necessary intergenerational cooperation, they address sensitive topics

of the intersubjective world, each from their own point of view, but at the same time with an in-depth analysis of the private and public in the lives of the elderly. They are aware that for the common world of fellow human beings, which is built and reproduced by us, people, and which shows through interpretations and reflections of our actions, it is not enough to address the problem only on a declarative level, but also by in-depth research of this subtle issue. Thus, in their contributions, they note that postmodern (also Slovenian) society has set itself the goal of creating different forms of identities of aging and individual’s health, based on group identities of different levels and types - from family, employment, regional, national, local and global level. What they all have in common, however, is that they are reflected in an individual’s identity, quality of life and health as they cross the magical 65-year mark. Therefore, they especially emphasize that the success of the agents of socialization processes of a healthy, active, productive and safe lifestyle of the elderly is manifested in the possibility of critical acceptance and internalization of as many contents of common identities as possible. This is preconditioned by the autonomous decision-making of the elderly for their lives in complex and demanding situations of a postmodern risk society, which undoubtedly depends on the realization of their autonomy in the context of human rights on the one hand and working for sustainable development and active aging on the other.

The scientific monograph, published by Alma Mater Press as part of the Social Gerontology Collection, was co-financed by the Public Research Agency of the Republic of Slovenia and edited by Jana Goriup, Goran Gumze and Peter Seljak, members of the Social Gerontology chair at Alma Matera Europaea-ECM.