Ageing and implemented social policies in Turkey

Along with scientific and technological progress, the spread of health services and the increase in life expectancy, the world has started to age rapidly with the decrease in birth rates. The demographic structure has also started to change because the birth and death rates have some differences. People around the world live longer. Although ageing is crucial issue for both developed and developing countries, it has some impacts on health, social security, education, employment areas and especially on family life. Recent studies show that the demographic structure has changed and the population which elderly has been augmenting in Turkey like the rest of the world. Social policy is consist of the whole of studies and policies which will be implement to make certain the social welfare of the states, coexistence of the society, social peace, justice and development. Therefore, the convenience and sustainability of the policies to the needs of the society which is implemented by the states are important. As the elderly population has increased in Turkey besides in the world, with the term of old age has gained importance, and it has become crucial to develop some new social policies and regulate existing policies for them. Along with senescence is vital issue as part of social policy, it affects countries for social, economic, health, cultural etc. areas. In this thesis, social policy practices which is related old age were examined primarily by literature review, and then examples of social policy practices implemented in Turkey as part of old age were examined. The second stage consist of, people whose aged 65 and more where living in Çankaya area of Ankara were selected and the interview questions were conveyed to them. The data which is obtained at the end of the interview which is made the volunteers who answered the questions within this study, analysed according to the data collection tool. Thus in this study it is objected to determine the views of people aged 65 and over on social policy practices related to old age. Also the scope of the study, it is aimed to inform about the social policy practices related to old age in Turkey and the condition of benefits and satisfaction regarding these policies. At the conclusion of the interviews, it has been determined that, people whose aged 65 years and more are as satisfied as the awareness of the social policy practices implemented in Turkey and they also demand the development of these practices which they have in the old age duration.