A sociological study of the perception towards nursing homes: The case of Bitlis province

In recent years, as the elderly population in Turkey has grown, discussions about nursing homes and elderly care have also become increasingly important. While public and private institutions in Turkey strive to meet the need for elderly care, new elements accompany this process in areas where traditional societal parameters prevail. Indeed, in Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region in general, and in the province of Bitlis in particular, traditional informal care within the family still plays an important role. One of the most important indicators of this is the fact that there are still no nursing homes in the province of Bitlis. The main objective of this study is to reveal the dynamics that influence the perception of nursing homes and the motivation for informal care among individuals who provide informal care to their parents. The study sought to identify the dynamics influencing perceptions of nursing homes and motivations for informal care in Bitlis using qualitative methods. Within the scope of the research, a total of 20 participants (10 women and 10 men) living with their parents in the city center of Bitlis province and providing care services to them were reached using the convenience sampling method, and in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview technique. The data obtained from the fieldwork were analyzed using content analysis. According to the findings obtained from participants in the study, the most important dynamics playing a role in the perception of nursing homes are: the negative perception of nursing homes throughout history, the impact of negative news reports about nursing homes in the media, parental responsibility, family ties, ethnic identity, love, respect, religion, tradition, cultural norms, stigmatization, and the cost of home care. Based on field data, it is possible to say that cultural transmission is largely responsible for these reasons. Furthermore, in the province of Bitlis, where traditional values are strongly felt in family relationships, the study results reflect the significant data that the existence of nursing homes is viewed negatively and elderly care is viewed positively due to intergenerational transmission.