9th World Conference of Gerontechnology (ISG 2014) , 2014, June. Taipei, TAIWAN Sema OGLAK, Asst.Prof.PhD ( İstanbul Arel University, Turkey ) İsmail TUFAN, Prof.Dr. ( Akdeniz University, Turkey ) Ayse CANATAN, Assoc.Prof. ( Gazi University, Turkey ) IMPORTANCE OF GERONTECHNOLOGY USE FOR TURKISH ELDERLY PEOPLE

Demographic Structure Turkey’s population is still young, however, ageing population is growing rapidly and Turkey is facing the aging population structure in the next decade. Elderly population will increase more significantly than the other age groups between 2000 and Source:Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), Elderly population5.6 millions millions Population 65 and over 7.6 %10 %20.8 %

Demographic structure indicators Population76 million (2014) Population growth rate11.2 Life expectancy at birth (years) (total)77 Women79.3 Men74.8 Population years (%) population (%)7.6 Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births) 7.4 Fertility rate (total births per woman)2.01 Age dependency ratio47.8 (2013) Population lives urban (%) Population lives rural (%) Source: TurkStat, 2014, OECD Health Data, 2012

35% of the elderly want to live together with children when they get older. 19% of the elderly want to live in the residential care homes. 36% of the elderly want to take care of their grand children.

According to Turkish Statistical Institute (2012), states that 72.6 % of the people 65 and older have health problems. the number of the people who have diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association of Turkey, it is estimated that there are nearly people who have Alzheimer’s Disease in Turkey. Lack of information and training about healthy life and active ageing in the all society, immobility, social exclusion and inadequate physical activity, worsen the problem which already exists. TURKEY (outlook of Ageing, Care Dependency)

According to Turkish Statistical Institute (2013) the people aged 75 and over health status are bad” or “very bad” % 35 (men ) % 52 (women) Turkey healthy older people in the population is 20.2 % which is extremely lower than OECD (43.7%). In other words, it could be said that just one fifth of the people aged 65 and older in Turkey are healthy. Source: OECD, 2011). (TurkStat, 2013)

Survey of “The Gerontology Atlas of Turkey” in 2012 clearly shows that (3/1) one third of the people 65 and older are care dependents Also, shows that the elderly people are faced with a quite negative outlook in terms of ageing and effects caused (e.g. active ageing, preventive healthcare, access to health and long-term-care services, social security coverage, literacy). The need for care of elderly people is increasing due to these factors.

In this context, Turkey's majority of elderly population will inevitably face with significant health and social care needs in the future.

ON THE OTHER HAND…. Socio-economic and psychological issues such as; loneliness, participation in society, maintaining quality of life active aging have become more important agendas with the elderly population increasing, in Turkey.

Daily routine of the people who are 65 year old and older Never (%)Frequently (%) Sportive activities Using internet Watching TV Going to holiday Reading book Going to cinema/theater Going to a cafe Going to a restaurant Joining a club Source: Research of the «Family Structure of Turkey» by the Ministry of Family and Social Policies in 2011.

workforce issues?? Decreasing of the role of the family members increases both the need of professional and paraprofessional care workforce

Growing demands Expensive Anadequate Unsuffient, unqualified High of illegal employment

Demand SUPPLY CARE CHALLENGES ? ELDERLY AND FAMILY AGENCY EMPLOYEES

in sum, There are no support services or policies for informal caregivers in Turkey. Formal and informal care workforce are huge problem (training, recruitment, employment) Decreasing family care. The demand for LTC is growing and cannot be met by providers

A safe home environment providing and accessing health and social services assisted living facilities, enhanced quality of life, and also individual participation in society are also needed. The need of technologies that enable the utilization of necessity has revealed.

Our study aims is to.. To describe the challenges elderly people has confronted and to meet their needs and demands a project of assisted living technologies provided through the local authority, public and NGOs service to practice in Turkey

Methods, In this study, we face-to-face interviewed 15 local authority, public and (NGOs) managers who provide services in this project. Semi-structured interview technique was used to analyze gerontechnology use in Ankara, Antalya and İstanbul.

Some PROJECTS IN TURKEY Social alarm project (İstanbul, Municipality of Besiktaş Life Support Project for Elderly people (Ankara, Local Government) AUDIBLE PATIENT USER GUIDE THE COMPANIONS DEVICES FOR THE PATIENTS AND WHO LIVES ALONE (Antalya)

FINDING

Gerontechnology is acceptable by Turkish elderly people, but it is not widely. The use of technology is an increasing demand for the elderly population to Turkey aspect of health care and especially social contact, communication. Elderly population yet can not able to use internet and the other technological devices

Such as a low literacy level and low education prevent many older people from using technology for social interaction. Many older people don’t understand technology, aren’t equipped to deal with it, and don’t really need to: They think that technology is for the young, not for them.

Elderly people often unaware of new technologies. They are not interested in technology because each needs are met in a nursing home or at home. But, they believe that very useful technology for them. « I am 68, I have a pretty good handle on most stuff. One of the main reasons I think the older people don't do well is because we don't have our peers around us all the time which is where young people pick up a huge per cent of their knowledge..».

Gerontchnology projects accepted from the elderly people mainly positively.. « I am very happy that I use some technological devices to ease of mine daily life. That means, they call me several time while in mey home. It is really importance. I don’t feel lonely, any more». (Woman, 64)

Conclusion.. Facing the increasing elderly care demand, gerontechnology is seen as a key solution. Facilitating access to health services to enhance the quality of life is one of the factors with growing the use of technology. The government must develop policies to provide affordable quality services in particular for long-term care of elderly people, and inter-sectorial practices in health and social care sectors are needed.

Sema OĞLAK, PhD İstanbul Arel University, School of Health Sciences, İstanbul-TURKEY