Average life expectancy has increased, but what about quality of life?

Recently, there have been news reports in the media that bring a smile to each of our faces. Research results indicate that human life expectancy is increasing, and consequently, classifications regarding age ranges are changing. We are considered young until we reach our eighties. It is a nice feeling. Just think, from now on, the saying "seventy is the end of the road" belongs in a museum.

But is this really the case? Should we be happy just because research says so, or should we take this opportunity to take another look at the realities in the society we live in and focus on the problems? A symposium was held at Üsküdar University to find answers to these questions. The topic is aging happily. Since aging—or as it is now called, "getting older"—cannot be prevented, there are many things that need to be done to make this process enjoyable. No matter what findings researchers reach, there is a certain lifespan allotted to humans. The best-case scenario is a century, a few years more or a few years less. But not much more. We do not know if life expectancy will increase in the future or how many years can be added to today's average life expectancy. Scientists are working to extend human life. Judging by the studies conducted, it seems that significant steps will be taken in this regard in the next few years. But since the subject has come up, let us take a look at the current situation for now.

Currently, the world population is aging rapidly. The living conditions of the aging population vary according to the level of development of societies. This was one of the important points emphasized at the symposium held at Üsküdar University on March 22. At the symposium, which was held in cooperation with Darülaceze, the living conditions of the elderly population in our society were discussed, problems were debated, and solution proposals were put forward. Emphasis was placed on what needs to be done so that getting older and aging can be a source of peace and happiness rather than a burden for people.

When it comes to the aging population, perhaps one of the most important problems is the widening generation gap due to the introduction of digital technologies into life. The transfer of experience from the elderly to the young is very important for social integrity and cultural continuity. However, we observe that with digital technologies, young people have stopped receiving experience and knowledge from the elderly. Their competence in using technology gives the younger generations excessive confidence, which prevents them from resorting to the experiences of previous generations. This situation can become a significant factor in the elderly feeling increasingly excluded from society. Therefore, certain measures need to be taken to bring the aging generations and the youth closer together and to integrate them. It is important to carry out social responsibility projects in this regard. There is a necessity to do this not only to make the elderly population happy but also to ensure social and cultural continuity.

Another problem is that the elderly population is pushed out of production. Yet, as people produce and remain involved in production, they feel useful. Being outside of production reinforces the feeling of devaluation, which means that aging individuals become unhappy. Therefore, some areas need to be opened up to make the aging population productive. Solution proposals should be created to involve the elderly, both in nursing homes and at home, in production in some way. There are definitely things that individuals in the elderly category in society can do. Especially for elderly professionals, it is important for general public health not to allow them to retire and withdraw into their shells, and to create solution proposals for them to remain involved in production in some way after retirement. Indeed, the more peaceful and happy the individuals in a society are, the healthier the society is. Let us not forget this.

Some solution proposals that come to my mind at first glance to keep the aging population involved in production are as follows:

Studies can be conducted to bring the elderly in nursing homes together with children in juvenile detention centers or orphanages. The bonding between lonely elderly people and lonely children can have a therapeutic effect for both groups.

On the other hand, elderly individuals can be hosted in kindergartens and daycare centers from time to time, allowing them to spend time with children, tell them stories, etc., thereby enabling younger generations to receive experience from older generations.

Elderly individuals in good health can be included in social responsibility projects in various ways, ensuring that their knowledge and experience are transformed into social benefit.

Most importantly, to ensure happy aging, it is crucial that social security and living conditions, where people can feel safe even in old age, are made suitable for a welfare society. It is very important to provide the assurance that the elderly who have earned the right to retirement by working in a job will have a happy retirement life. This issue remains on the agenda as a significant problem in our country. On the other hand, it is also important to take measures to ensure that the elderly who have not been able to earn the right to retirement because they did not work in any job are also under protection as members of this society and that minimum quality of life standards are provided for them.

Let us not forget that a society is a whole with its children, youth, and elderly individuals. A healthy society is only possible if the mental, emotional, and physical health of every individual in the society is protected.