Old age rhythm of the Western Mediterranean; daily life practices and participation of physically disabled elderly people in social life

It is observed that aging is progressing rapidly in our country as in the world. Demographically, while the proportion of elderly people in our country is increasing, the proportion of older adults with disadvantages in this proportion is growing every year and projections predict that this growth will continue. This qualitative research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the daily life practices and social participation of aging people with physical disabilities in the Western Mediterranean, emphasizing the impact of demographic changes. The uniqueness of the research lies in its in-depth perspective on the intersection of ageing and disability, focusing on the unique challenges faced by older people with physical disabilities and the impact of these challenges on daily life practices and social participation. The first part of this research, which consists of four chapters, includes the subject, purpose, importance, study group, methods and techniques of the research. In the second part, the conceptual framework related to old age, aging and disability is presented. The theoretical foundations of everyday life and space are presented in the third section. In the fourth section, in-depth interviews conducted with a "semi-structured" questionnaire are analyzed and interpreted by content analysis method. The study's results indicated that physical disabilities significantly impact the daily routines and social lives of older adults. Despite encountering numerous obstacles, many participants adjust their daily activities to support their independence. Their daily routines and social interactions revolve around specific themes, allowing them to live in a more peaceful and structured way.