Minister Göktaş announced! 64.1 percent of the elderly are happy

Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced the results of the 'Turkey Elderly Profile Research' conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute at the 75th Year Nursing Home Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Göktaş stated that although Turkey is rich in terms of its young population, the elderly population is also increasing. She noted that the elderly population has increased by 21.4% in the last five years, reaching 8 million 722 thousand 806. She reported that the ratio of the elderly population to the total population was 8.8% in 2018, but this rate rose to 10.2% in 2023. Göktaş also shared that the elderly population ratio is projected to be 12.9% in 2030, 16.3% in 2040, and 22.6% in 2060.

Göktaş continued as follows:

This shows that the work we will do in the field of aging is of great importance from a social perspective. As of 2023, it was determined that at least one elderly person lives in 6 million 458 thousand 465 of the more than 26 million households in Turkey. In other words, there is at least one elderly person in one out of every four households. In Turkey, 1 million 669 thousand 270 elderly people live alone. Women make up 74.4% of the elderly living alone. This finding shows that we need to develop policies for the economic and social welfare of elderly women living alone."

'64.1 PERCENT OF THE ELDERLY ARE HAPPY'

Göktaş also touched upon the happiness rates of the elderly. While stating that 64.1% of the elderly are happy, she noted that 82% see being healthy as a reason for happiness, and 64.4% stated that what makes them happiest is their family. Stating that the research shows the most important source of happiness for the elderly is their family, Göktaş said, "This reminds us once again how important the family is at every age. 64.4% of the elderly spend time with their grandchildren every day. This data is extremely valuable in terms of showing that family ties remain strong and intergenerational transfer continues. 40.6% of the elderly see their neighbors every day. One of the most important actors supporting our elderly is their neighbors. The value of our neighborly relations shows itself once again here. The voter turnout rate of our elderly in the last elections was 91.3%. This finding also shows us that our elderly want to participate in political life with their ideas. Our elderly, who participate in political life to this extent, also think at a rate of 81.9% that society should benefit from the experiences of the elderly,” she said.

News Source: AA