Living standards of the elderly should be raised

CIU Faculty of Health Sciences Faculty Member, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bilge Önal Dölek reminded that of the approximately 7.73 billion people of the world, 900 million of them are made up of individuals aged 60+. Dölek noted, "With the increase in the number of elderly individuals, October 1 was accepted as World Elderly Day by the UN, in order to raise awareness among individuals about elderly health and in an effort to raise their living standards."

Dölek stated that based on the latest known data, the population of Northern Cyprus, which is approximately 350,000 at the citizenship level; along with the increase in the elderly population, which is a measurable scientific fact, has led to this numerical reality applying an increasing need for elderly care services, and putting it into priority agenda.

Institutional care service…
Assoc. Prof Dr. Dölek in this context, stated that systematic service needs such as institutional home care services and care assurance systems have gained importance, and explained “institutional home care, is the caring of the individual in need of care, without them being detached from their social environment, while supporting the family in these care services financially and morally.”

Dölek pointed out that there are different models regarding care assurance systems, “For example, in the Netherlands and Germany, as well as the general insurance provided within the social insurance system against various social risks such as illness, disability, accident and unemployment, through the support of care insurance, various services and guarantees are provided to people in need of care, within the framework of a premium regime.”

Care guarantee…
Explaining that according to another model, people in need of care are provided with a care insurance system fınanced via general taxes; Dölek explained that these are in the form of inclusion of public social assistance and social services. Dölek advised that in most of the European Union countries, the person in need of care coverage receives in-kind and cash benefits, depending on the social security and income status. Stating that work in this direction should also be prepared for the elderly population of Northern Cyprus, Dölek noted that the elderly deserve to complete their lives while in receipt of quality care services.

Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Health Sciences Faculty Member, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bilge Önal Dölek reminded that of the approximately 7.73 billion people of the world, 900 million of them are made up of individuals aged 60+. Dölek noted, "With the increase in the number of elderly individuals, October 1 was accepted as World Elderly Day by the UN, in order to raise awareness among individuals about elderly health and in an effort to raise their living standards."

Dölek stated that based on the latest known data, the population of Northern Cyprus, which is approximately 350,000 at the citizenship level; along with the increase in the elderly population, which is a measurable scientific fact, has led to this numerical reality applying an increasing need for elderly care services, and putting it into priority agenda.