Old age and aging are a very common topics in the social sciences, however, it are often treated negatively. Individuals view old age and aging as something unpleasant and undesirable, because in our consumer-oriented society, productivity and youth are valued above all. Predominantly negative conception of old age and aging are expressed in negative age prejudice and stereotypes and, lastly, in the poor self-image of the elderly. The aim of the diploma thesis is to investigate how the elderly understand and experience their aging and old age and what are the key factors that influence their subjective experience. The diploma thesis is entirely theoretical, but emphasized by the findings of studies, that have been already carried out. Experiencing age and aging is addressed through four central factors: changes in appearance, social interaction, health and illness and reflection on the elders' past. The experience of old age and aging of physically handicapped people was also included in the diploma thesis. The findings show that there is no holistic conclusion regarding the experience of old age and aging, because each individual experiences their age differently, and is influenced by interdependent
factors.
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