Problems and life experiences of elderly women living alone in the context of gender: The case of Kocaeli

This research was carried out to reveal the life experiences, problems and needs of elderly women living alone. The subjects of this qualitative research were elderly women aged 65 and over living alone in Kocaeli. The snowball sampling method was used to reach the subjects, and 15 elderly women were interviewed in-depth face-to-face using a semi-structured interview form. The data obtained were analyzed using MAXQDA 12 qualitative data analysis software. The results showed that the gender inequalities experienced by elderly women in their past lives made their experience of living alone more difficult. In addition to gender inequality, the elderly women also experienced age discrimination during this period. The internalization of traditional gender and aging roles was found to be an important factor affecting their experiences. In this context, social policy and feminist social service recommendations were made to support the social participation and empowerment of elderly women by developing coping strategies and supporting their participation in society.