Elderly poverty in Turkey: The case of Bartin

This study aims to address the issue of multidimensional poverty faced by the increasingly aging population in Türkiye, using the case of Bartın province as an example. Within the scope of the research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 female and 12 men participants, totaling 30 individuals who receive old-age pensions from the Bartın Central Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation, within the framework of Law No. 2022 on Granting Monthly Payments to Needy, Powerless, and Orphaned Turkish Citizens Aged 65 and Over. Recognizing that aging is not merely a biological phase but a complex process with social, economic, and cultural dimensions, the findings are evaluated within the framework of the Life Course Approach. This approach enables the analysis of individuals' interactions with historical events, social roles, and institutional structures encountered throughout their lives. In the theoretical framework, the study addresses the aging process, definitions of poverty, and social assistance policies in Turkey. The findings indicate that older adults experience poverty not solely as income deprivation but through multiple, intersecting layers such as insufficient social support, loneliness, health problems, and institutional discrimination. The results also reveal that older women and those living in rural areas face more profound forms of poverty. Based on qualitative data analysis, the research highlights the need for elder-friendly social policies. It is emphasized that social assistance must go beyond temporary effects and be supported by long-term and holistic approaches. Developing social service models that will improve the quality of life of elderly individuals and enable aging with dignity is among the main recommendations of this study. The study aims to make a significant contribution to both the aging and poverty literature from a local context.