Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) Elderly Care, Home Patient Care and Disabled Care Rehabilitation programs organized a symposium titled “Current Approaches in Care Services.” At the symposium, held with the participation of academics, public representatives, sector experts, and students, the professionalization of care services, strengthening cooperation between academia and practice, and current developments in the field were discussed. During the sessions, the increasing need for care with the aging population, different dimensions of care services, and the effects of digitalization and artificial intelligence on the sector were evaluated, while it was emphasized that the event provided an important platform for scientific studies and new collaborations.
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Current approaches in care Services discussed at Üsküdar
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The symposium, held at Çarşı Campus Emirnebi 1 Conference Hall, was attended by Rector's Advisor Prof. İsmail Barış, VSHS Director Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal, Elderly Care Program Head Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk, Home Patient Care Program Head Instructor Büşra Ecem Kumru, and Disabled Care and Rehabilitation Program Head Instructor Gönül Kil Tetik, as well as many academics, public representatives, sector experts, and students.
Prof. İsmail Barış: “Professional execution of care services is of great importance”
Rector's Advisor Prof. İsmail Barış delivered the opening speech of the symposium. Emphasizing that care services require not only technical knowledge but also ethical responsibility, communication skills, and a multidisciplinary approach, Barış stated that the professionalization of this field both improves service quality and directly contributes to individuals' quality of life. Barış said; “The professional execution of care services is of great importance. For this reason, relevant departments opened at universities significantly contribute to the training of specialized individuals in the field by providing not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills, ethical awareness, and human sensitivity.”
Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal: “Our goal is to increase knowledge sharing"
Speaking at the opening of the symposium, SHMYO Director Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal emphasized that the main purpose of the event was to build a strong and sustainable bridge between academia and practice. Karasakal stated that the symposium provides an important platform for sharing current approaches, innovative practices, and field experiences in care services, and that increasing interdisciplinary interaction is also aimed. Karasakal said; “Our goal is to increase knowledge sharing and to reflect academic knowledge into practice more effectively. Such scientific events serve as an important starting point for both professional development and the formation of new collaborations.”
Such organizations play a critical role
Home Patient Care Program Head Instructor Büşra Cem Kumru emphasized that the symposium was not limited to sharing existing knowledge but also created a strong foundation for future scientific studies and projects.
Drawing attention to the continuously evolving nature of the field, Kumru stated that such academic gatherings contribute to the emergence of new research topics, the strengthening of interdisciplinary collaborations, and the development of innovative approaches for practical application. Kumru stated that the symposium is a starting point that both encourages academic productivity and paves the way for qualified studies that can respond to field needs, adding that such organizations play a critical role in ensuring home care services achieve a more systematic, scientific, and sustainable structure.
Following the opening speeches, the sessions began.
The increasing need for care services was evaluated
The first session of the symposium was moderated by Prof. Melih Bulut. During the session, the increase in Türkiye's elderly population and the consequent rise in the need for care services were evaluated.
Serkan Akten, Provincial Branch Manager for Elderly Services at the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, shared his presentation titled “Integrated Care Services from a Public Perspective: Home Care, Elderly Care, and Disabled Care”, Burç Özergül, Founder of Bakımevi, presented on “Comparison of Home and Institutional Care Services”, Aynur Gökkaya from A-DORA Nursing Homes, on “Elderly Care Insurance: Current Status and Future Perspective”, and Sıla Nur Baş, Coordinator of the 65+ Elderly Rights Association, on “Care Services from the Perspective of Elderly Rights” with the participants.
The role of digitalization and artificial intelligence in care services was discussed
The second session was moderated by Elderly Care Program Head Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk. The session discussed how digitalization and artificial intelligence are transforming care services.
Üsküdar University SHMYO Elderly Care Program Instructor Muhammet Yusuf Araz spoke on “Artificial Intelligence Applications in Elderly Care”, Fenerbahçe University Instructor Rukiye Kökkız on “Digitalization of Home Care”, Dr. Şevval Karadağ from Viva Smart Care Company on “Remote Monitoring Systems”, and NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi Specialist Dr. Dilek Leyla Mamçu on “Current Approaches in Adult Immunization.”
Following the sessions, a Q&A section was held.
The symposium concluded after a group photo session.