Neighborhood Senior Daytime Community Centers: Senior Socialization Centers
- Author Lale BERKÖZ
- DOI
- Country : Turkey
- Subject : Social Science
Keywords : Elderly living alone, daytime community center, life quality, life satisfaction
Abstract
As Turkey undergoes a transformation from extended families to nuclear families, more and more elderly couples find themselves living in two person households that do not include their children. With the passing away or absence of a spouse, more elderly individuals find themselves living alone. This development may be accompanied by certain age-related physiological problems or psycho-social problems stemming from loneliness.
Loneliness is one of the social problems that decreases the quality of life for the elderly. For this reason, protection from loneliness is one of the primary measures to increase the quality of life among the elderly. This study determined that the life satisfaction levels of elderly individuals living in single person households are positively affected by regular participation in social and cultural activities, by taking a seaside holiday, by maintaining contact with youthful individuals, and by maintaining positive relationships with family members.
The study has also determined that Senior Daytime Community Centers play an important role in elder socialization and suggests that such centers be established in neighborhoods, so as to help especially the elderly living alone to increase their quality of life through giving them the opportunity to spend their free time with various activities, develop their social relationships, and support them to improve their daily activities. These centers are planned to enrich and make easier the daily lives of the elderly by means of facilities such as hobby rooms, libraries, seminar rooms, cinemas, cafes, restaurants, and infirmaries.
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