Elderly, active or pasive people? The importance of getting an instruction in their active behaviour

Gran parte de la población europea y, especialmente, la española está compuesta por personas jubiladas o prejubiladas con muchos años de vida por delante cuya actividad laboral, y con ella la actividad física y mental, se ha visto reducida drásticamente. Son muchas las investigaciones que han demostrado la necesidad de mantener la actividad, principalmente, cognitiva para paliar o evitar el natural deterioro degenerativo. Los Gobiernos han desarrollado planes específicos de ocio y entretenimiento, dirigidos principalmente a conservar minimamente la actividad de este colectivo. La Pedagogía tiene el compromiso de emplear todo su potencial creativo, educativo y didáctico en el diseño e implementación de programas específicos centrados en el ejercicio de la actividad mental de los mayores que contribuyan a minimizar los efectos negativos del envejecimiento.Most of the population in Europe, and especially in Spain, is ageing population, that is to say pensioners and people who have been retired before age. Nevertheless, they still have lots of life ahead although their work activity, as well as their physical and mental activity, have been dramatically reduced. There are many researches that have proved the need to mantein brain cognitive activity in order to ease, even to avoid the natural degenerative damage. Governments from most european countries have developed specific plans to have the elderly amused in their leisure time with the objetive of keeping their minds constantly active. Pedagogy has the commitment to use all the creative, educational and didactic potential by drawing up and implementing specific programs focused on training the elders’ mental activity in order to contribute to minimize the negative effects of agin