As Türkiye’s demographic structure rapidly changes, the phenomenon of aging can no longer be confined solely to the bracket of 'health and physical care.' A master's thesis titled “Aging in Place Experiences and Changing Needs of Elderly Women: The Istanbul Kadıköy Case Study,” prepared within the Department of Social Work, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, examined the 'aging in place' experiences of elderly women through the example of Kadıköy, Istanbul's oldest district.
Thesis Advisor Asst. Prof. Yüksel Bekaroğlu Doğan: “Mental balance, social relationships, sense of security, feeling of belonging, and the ability to have a say in one’s life are as important as physical health. It is not sufficient to evaluate elderly individuals solely based on their care needs.”
Thesis author Elif Berber Tiryakioğlu: “For many women, home was not just four walls. It was a space of memory where they lost their husbands, raised their children, celebrated holidays, and drank tea with their neighbors.”
A master's thesis prepared within the Department of Social Work, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, explored the “aging in place” experiences of women aged 65 and over living in Kadıköy, Istanbul, from a multidimensional perspective. The thesis, titled “Aging in Place Experiences and Changing Needs of Elderly Women: The Istanbul Kadıköy Case Study,” prepared by Elif Berber Tiryakioğlu under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Yüksel Bekaroğlu Doğan, evaluated aging not only in terms of health and care but also in the context of home, neighborhood, belonging, security, and independence.
Reading aging through life itself is the thesis's strongest aspect
Thesis Advisor Asst. Prof. Yüksel Bekaroğlu Doğan stated that she found the study academically and socially important, saying, “The study does not evaluate aging solely through health problems or care needs; it addresses it along with fundamental elements of daily life such as home, neighborhood, neighborly relations, sense of belonging, feeling of security, and desire for independence. Reading the issue of aging through life itself is one of the strongest aspects of this thesis.”
Aging in place is not just a housing preference
Emphasizing the importance of the concept of “aging in place,” Doğan said, “Aging in place means that as a person ages, they can continue to live their life without detaching from it, as much as possible in their own home, in their own neighborhood, and within their accustomed social environment. This approach is not merely a housing preference; it is about preserving an individual's independence, social relationships, daily routines, and the meaningful connection they have with life. When a person stays in a familiar environment, they feel more secure, organize their daily life more easily, maintain their social contacts more readily, and this situation supports psychological well-being. Conversely, being uprooted from one's living environment or losing the right to have a say over one's own life arrangement can increase feelings of loneliness, anxiety, alienation, and vulnerability. For this reason, aging in place offers a protective framework not only physically but also psychosocially.”
The unseen experiences of elderly women were made visible
Doğan pointed out the importance of the research’s specific focus on elderly women, stating, “The experiences of elderly women can often become invisible within the general heading of ‘aging.’ However, the economic, social, and care-based inequalities women face throughout their lives become more pronounced in old age. This study precisely makes this invisible area visible.”
Kadıköy has the highest elderly population rate among Istanbul’s 39 districts
Doğan stated that choosing Kadıköy as the research area was appropriate, saying, “In Türkiye, the elderly population rate has exceeded 10 percent. In Kadıköy, this rate is significantly above the Turkish average. According to TÜİK data, the population aged 65 and over living in the district has reached 96,252, and the proportion of this group within the district's population is 20.99 percent. With this rate, Kadıköy is the district with the highest elderly population rate among Istanbul's 39 districts. These data do not just make Kadıköy a numerically noteworthy place; they also transform it into a crucial social field for understanding the aging experience through the dimensions of daily life, neighborhood relations, care, security, belonging, and quality of life.”
Aging policies must move beyond being care-focused
Doğan stated that the study revealed the need for a transformation in Türkiye's aging policies, saying, “The real issue in old age is not merely the management of diseases, but the preservation of a person's holistic well-being. Mental balance, social relationships, sense of security, feeling of belonging, and the ability to have a say over one’s life are as important as physical health. It is not sufficient to evaluate elderly individuals solely based on their care needs. Especially for elderly women, loneliness, social isolation, and the weakening of neighborhood ties become critical.”
Service models should be diversified
Asst. Prof. Yüksel Bekaroğlu Doğan stated that nursing home and care home services should not be the only option, saying, “Nursing home and care home services are certainly necessary; however, they should not be the sole alternative. In-home support services, neighborhood-based social service applications, day support mechanisms, psychosocial support programs, and intermediate models that empower families should be planned together. A strong aging policy is possible with a structure that can offer options suitable for different life situations, rather than relying on a single form of solution.”
Doğan stated that urban transformation and changing family structures directly affect the quality of life of elderly women, saying, “In a district like Kadıköy, where transformation is rapid, not only buildings are renewed; the social fabric of the neighborhood also changes. The thinning of neighborly relations and the dispersal of familiar surroundings can weaken the sense of belonging for elderly individuals. It is not enough to expect the elderly individual to adapt to the city; the city must also be arranged to adapt to the elderly individual.”
An age-friendly city is necessary for everyone
Doğan emphasized the importance of the age-friendly city approach, stating, “An age-friendly city is a more livable city for children, for youth, for individuals with disabilities, and for caregiving families alike. Pedestrian access, safe sidewalks, resting areas, accessible service points, and inclusive public spaces improve the quality of life for all segments of society. Designing the city for everyone is not a privilege for the elderly; it is a requirement of public justice.”
A neighborhood-based aging in place support system should be established
Drawing from the thesis, Doğan also shared her most prioritized social policy recommendation, saying, “My most prioritized social policy recommendation is the establishment and institutionalization of a neighborhood-based and multi-layered ‘aging in place support system.’ Social policy should not only be about providing care services but also about strengthening the conditions that enable individuals to continue living in their accustomed environment. Municipal services and social service practices should work together; a holistic structure should be created, ranging from in-home arrangements to psychosocial support, from ease of transportation to social participation programs.” She thus called on local governments.
From the field to academia…
Thesis author Elif Berber Tiryakioğlu stated that her study was shaped at the intersection of her personal and professional experiences. Tiryakioğlu, who has lived in Kadıköy Erenköy Neighborhood for many years and closely witnessed the daily lives of elderly women within the neighborhood life, mentioned that she worked as a sociologist at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality after graduating in sociology, and particularly observed the living conditions of elderly individuals closely during field studies.
Tiryakioğlu said, “During the pandemic, I personally witnessed how isolated and vulnerable the elderly became. The stories of my neighbors in my district and those I encountered in the field made me realize this: the voices of the elderly are not heard enough. Yet, the population is rapidly aging, and this issue is no longer a matter that can be postponed. My goal was not just to conduct an academic study; it was to develop a perspective that touches their lives and contributes to finding solutions.”
Home as a space of memory
Tiryakioğlu emphasized that the most prominent demand of elderly women during the field study was to stay in their homes and neighborhoods, saying, “For many women, home was not just four walls. It was a space of memory where they lost their husbands, raised their children, celebrated holidays, and drank tea with their neighbors. The neighborhood, on the other hand, meant familiarity; a familiar bakery, a tradesperson who greeted them, a long-time neighbor… As one ages, one of the most valuable things becomes a safe and familiar environment. When they said, ‘I don’t want to be uprooted from the place that makes me who I am,’ they actually meant, ‘The traces of my life are here.’”
Loneliness is the most dominant theme
Tiryakioğlu stated that loneliness was the most frequently expressed topic in the study, saying, “This loneliness was not just about being alone; it meant not being understood, not being checked upon, and gradually withdrawing from social life. The weakening of neighborly ties and the shrinking of the social circle accelerate this process.”
Tiryakioğlu also stated that access to healthcare services and adaptation to digital systems were among the important problem areas, noting that difficulties in accessing the appointment system and digitalization could limit access to services.
Trust and belonging determine aging in place
Tiryakioğlu drew attention to the fact that urban transformation and changing neighborhood structures directly affect the aging in place experience, stating, “As urban transformation projects and high-rise living areas increase, old neighborly relations begin to thin out. However, for an elderly woman, a neighborhood is not just an address; it is an area of belonging, security, and social interaction. When this bond weakens, the most important advantages of aging in place are also lost. The continuity of daily practices and small solidarity networks shrink. The decrease in feelings of trust and belonging makes aging in place most difficult.” She concluded her remarks.