A qualitative research to understand elder neglect and abuse in Bolu

The modernization process due to industrialization has caused some changes in the social order. One of the groups most affected by these changes is the elderly. Both the socio-cultural change in the elderly and the growing elderly population raise many problems related to old age. In this study, 72 elderly people aged 65 years and over living in Bolu city center with their families and three different socio-economic neighborhoods are interviewed. To determine whether there is neglect and abuse for the elderly, neglect and abuse types of neglect and abuse, age, gender, marital status, socio-economic level and so on. It is aimed to reveal the relationship with variables. As a result of the research, it is seen that Bolu province has a transition society and on the one hand it has a cultural structure open to development and modernization; on the other hand, it is seen that there is a social structure that depends on traditions, values the elderly and tries to maintain the respectable position of the elderly in the society. In the study, answers to the research questions were found and the relation of neglect and abuse with these variables was revealed. There is a need for studies on neglect and exploitation, which are often avoided to be discussed and attempted to be kept confidential. This study is the first study to understand the neglect and abuse in the elderly in Bolu.