Mission

The mission of the Elderly Care Program is to educate qualified professionals who will address the health, care, and social needs of elderly individuals through a human-centered educational approach grounded in local and universal values. The program aims to cultivate professionals who integrate scientific knowledge and practical skills with ethical and moral principles, possess social and professional responsibility, and can develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the aging population of society.

Vision

The vision of the Elderly Care Program is to become a respected, innovative, and pioneering educational program in elderly care at both national and international levels, drawing strength from local and universal values. By integrating knowledge, culture, and technology, the program seeks to produce graduates who are creative, ethically grounded, attentive to scientific developments, and recognized as preferred leaders in their field.

Objectives

Demographic changes worldwide and in Turkey, including the decline of the young population and the growth of the elderly population, alongside the shift from traditional extended family structures to nuclear family units, have created a gap in elderly care services—a critical area within social services. There is a need for mid-level professionals who, alongside other health personnel, can deliver direct, practice-oriented care for the elderly and address their needs in both health and social service dimensions. Accordingly, the program’s primary objective is to equip students with the comprehensive knowledge, skills, and values required for elderly care, enabling them to serve competently in public institutions, private organizations, and civil society organizations as proficient health technicians who implement and enhance elderly care services.

Educational Principles

The educational principles of the Elderly Care Program focus on understanding the fundamental characteristics and needs of elderly individuals and acquiring the skills to address these needs comprehensively. Practical training is conducted in hospitals, nursing homes, elderly rehabilitation centers, day centers for the elderly, and home care service organizations.

Service Plan

Within the scope of the Elderly Care Program, students are trained to provide various care services to elderly individuals, offer consultancy to families living with elderly persons, and conduct home-based elderly care during internships. During internships, students are expected to acquire general knowledge about the health status, diseases, and care needs of the elderly under their responsibility; ensure the hygiene of elderly individuals; and provide optimal care in coordination with healthcare personnel. Each elderly individual is documented in a dedicated file, enabling students to learn professional principles of elderly care through routine monitoring. Additionally, training sessions, either individual or group-based, are planned for personnel in nursing homes and for individuals providing home-based care.

Graduates of the program may, upon successful completion of the Vertical Transfer Exam (DGS), enroll in Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, or Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation programs.

Employment Opportunities for Graduates

Graduates of the Elderly Care Program can work under the supervision of professionals in:

• Social Service Directorates or private nursing homes providing elderly care services

• The Prime Ministry Family Research Institution, State Planning Organization, and Family Counseling Centers

• Municipalities

• Hospitals

• Non-governmental organizations and private institutions offering elderly care services

• Nursing homes, care facilities for the frail elderly, and day centers for elderly individuals

• Home-based elderly care units affiliated with Health Directorates

• International organizations such as UNICEF, ILO, and other volunteer institutions

• Private organizations providing specialized services, such as home adaptation and assisted living facilities for the elderly

Graduates are prepared to contribute professionally to the planning, implementation, and development of elderly care services across diverse institutional and community settings.