Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk from the Elderly Care Program at Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services evaluated the current state of elderly care services in Turkey, the problems faced by families, the need for professional care for dementia patients, and the future of technology in elder care.
“The existing structure needs to be developed in terms of service diversity and accessibility”
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk stated that there are nursing homes, home care services, day care centers, and various social support programs for elderly individuals in Turkey, and added that the rapid increase in the elderly population will further increase the need for these services in the coming years.
Şentürk emphasized that elder care should not be evaluated solely through institutional care, saying, “The main goal is for the individual to maintain their independence as much as possible, remain in their own living environment, and continue their life without being disconnected from society. To achieve this, a more holistic structure is needed where health and social services, local governments, care professionals, and families work in an interconnected manner.”
“The same care model is not suitable for every elderly individual”
Emphasizing that home care, nursing homes, elderly living centers, and day care services should not be independent but rather complementary structures, Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk pointed out that the needs of elderly individuals can change over time.
Şentürk explained that elderly living centers and day care services might be suitable for individuals who can live independently but need social support, and continued:
“When more support is needed in daily living activities, home care services can come into play. In situations where home support is insufficient, or continuous supervision or more intensive care is required, nursing homes or residential care centers can be considered. What is important here is establishing a strong referral and follow-up system between services.”
Şentürk stated that care services should be planned according to the individual's health status, level of independence, cognitive condition, and family support, and used the expression, “The most accurate approach is to shape the care service according to the individual’s changing needs, rather than fitting the person into an existing service model.”
“Meeting only physical needs is not sufficient in elder care”
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk noted that good elder care is not limited to nutrition, personal care, medication tracking, and ensuring safety, and added that psychological support and social interaction are also an integral part of care.
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk stated that staying alone for a long time, withdrawing from social circles, and becoming passive in daily life can negatively affect the well-being of elderly individuals, and said, “It is also of great importance for life quality that the person feels valued, can maintain social relationships, participate in daily life, and remain mentally active.”
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk stated that elderly individuals should be supported in maintaining communication with their families and friends, walking, listening to music, playing games, and participating in activities they are interested in, and added, “The aim here is not only to meet basic needs; but to support the person in remaining as independent, active, and engaged in life as possible.”
“Existing skills of dementia patients should be preserved”
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk stated that diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s increase the need for special knowledge and skills in elder care, and pointed out that in these diseases, besides forgetfulness, communication difficulties, disorientation, behavioral changes, sleep problems, and risks of falling and getting lost can also be observed.
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk stated that care staff should recognize the symptoms of dementia, communicate correctly, approach behavioral changes appropriately, and create safe living environments, and said, “Although doing everything on behalf of the person during care may seem facilitative in the short term, it can lead to a decrease in independence over time. Therefore, care staff should support the person in preserving their existing skills and participating in daily life as much as possible.”
“Burdening a single person with care responsibility can lead to burnout”
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk stated that providing long-term care to elderly relatives can be physically and emotionally exhausting, and added that especially when the responsibility of care falls on a single person within the family, it can cause significant problems.
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk stated that day care centers and temporary care services can alleviate the burden on families, and used the expressions, “The caregiver needs to rest, manage their own daily tasks, and maintain their social life. Preserving the physical and mental well-being of the caregiver directly reflects on the quality of life of the care recipient. Supporting the family in this respect is an integral part of elder care.”
“Artificial intelligence and care robots should not replace human care”
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk pointed out that the role of technology in elder care will increasingly grow, and said that smartwatches, motion sensors, fall detection systems, and remote health monitoring can particularly enhance the safety of elderly individuals living alone.
Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk stated that reminding medication times, remote monitoring of health data, and notifying relatives of unusual changes in daily routines can support elderly people in living more independently in their homes, and noted that artificial intelligence and care robots could also be used in various support services in the future.
However, emphasizing that technology should not replace human relationships, Instructor Duygu Deniz Şentürk concluded her words as follows:
“Artificial intelligence and care robots can also assist with reminders, guidance, monitoring, and some daily support in the future. However, technology should not be expected to completely replace human care. In elder care, human relationships, trust, communication, and emotional support are indispensable. The healthiest approach in the future will be to use technology as a tool that supports an individual's independence, safety, and quality of life, rather than seeing it as an alternative to human care.”
