Study paper from 2014 in the field of Education - Adult Education, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Language: German. Abstract: "What Hansel doesn't learn, Hans will never know." The fundamental message of this saying is clear: What one does not learn in youth cannot be made up for in old age. This deficit model of aging has long persisted in people's minds. It is based on the assumption that the aging process in every individual leads to an unbearable decline in physical and mental abilities and personality traits. Today, this model is scientifically considered to be disproven, as studies have shown that learning is still possible and necessary in old age. A significant contribution to this has been made by geragogy, which is a relatively young science. It is defined as the "pedagogy of aging.".