[Psychohygienic programmes designed to help people prepare for old age (author's transl)]

Preparation for an active old age must include geropsychohygienic measures in order to maintain and promote psychic health up to the most advanced age. The scientific basis is provided by geropsychohygienic research. The use of psychohygienic programmes should concentrate on the segment of the working population which is approaching pensionable age and which has a relatively low level of qualification. But gradually all other age brackets should also be covered. The programmes should be based on modern gerohygienic and gerontopsychological findings. Relationships between ageing, environment and psychic health must be elucidated from various aspects, questions of planning one's life playing an important role here. All means of psychic training in the creative interaction between man and his environment must be set forth and utilized. The erroneous conviction still held by many that old age poses a drawback for such training must be refute. Under socialist conditions, the preservation of the senior citizen's full integration into society is part of the process of preparing for an active old age. He should also be made consciously aware of the esteem in which he is held by society and of the significance of his position. We hold the view that the integrated socialist educational system is a medium for putting psychohygienic preparation programmes into practical use. Apart from this, the process of preparing people for old age, which is a country-wide task, calls for cooperation between state-appointed managements, public bodies and representatives of different medical specialties.