Evaluation of elderly care centers in the public space in terms of sustainability

There has been an improvement in health conditions as a result of technological, economic and social developments in the world. In parallel, infant deaths have decreased and life expectancy has increased even more. In our country, the elderly population has started to increase proportionally and has been included in the class of elderly societies according to international classifications. Considering that the elderly population growth is expected to increase further in the coming years, it will be necessary to develop recommendations on the need for elderly care. In this context, the aim of the research is to evaluate shopping malls, which are today's public spaces, for elderly care centers needed in the context of sustainability. The conceptual part of this thesis is based on the needs arising due to the aging population in the world and in Turkey and the elderly care centers data, the changes in the family structure after The Industrial Revolution and how the elderly are affected by these changes, and how sustainable development is achieved by adding new functions to existing buildings in order to prevent unconscious construction and demolition activities. Literature review, observation and survey methods were used in the research. In order to determine the shopping center where the field study will be conducted, a demographic research was conducted in the literature review and the ratios of the elderly population of the districts in Istanbul, the capacities of the elderly care centers and the number of shopping centers were calculated. A 30-question questionnaire prepared to understand people's criteria regarding their current living spaces and elderly care homes was administered to randomly selected healthy adults over the age of 25 in and around the shopping center. As a result of surveys conducted with people; it was also observed that people requested that the place of residence and the elderly shelters to be within walking distance to social areas such as shopping facilities, green areas or health institutions. In the light of all these preferences, it is seen that the existing living spaces of the participants obtained from the surveys and the elderly care home properties they want to live in the future coincide with the spatial and environmental characteristics of the shopping malls identified and examined as a result of the analyzes. The elderly care centers which integrated into the shopping center; it is thought to be a proposal that can meet the needs of the aging population of the future, such as housing, integration into social life and care.