Abstract:

It is known that the number of elderly individuals in need of care is increasing rapidly with the increase in life expectancy and the aging of the population worldwide. Care needs are also mostly met by family members who provide informal care. Globally, it is known that the number of informal caregivers to the older adults is increasing, and the number of informal caregivers aged 65 and over is increasing due to demographic changes. Providing informal care is a very difficult process physically, psychologically and socially, especially for older adults. This particular group may need care as well as being caregivers because they face the problems of their own aging process as well as their variable and increasing responsibilities during the care process. Although caregiving has significant impacts on the health and well-being of an increasing number of older people, the issue of informal care in old age appears to be under-studied, and elderly informal caregivers are a much-needed future focus of gerontological practice, policy and research. There is a need for gerontological service models for elderly caregivers. In order to develop these service models, it is crucial to analyze the profile of the elderly caregivers in our country, to determine their needs, and to evaluate the financial burden of care for the elderly caregivers.

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