Abstract:

Population projections indicate that the constantly increasing and young population structure of Turkey is changing and the population structure of Turkey has started to converge the population structure of developed countries especially in terms of fertility and age structure. The demographic transition, that means a transition from high fertility and high mortality to low fertility and low mortality, changes the age structure. In this process, young age groups are constantly decreasing, working age group is increasing up to year 2040 and starts to decline and old age group is constantly increasing. Both changes in age and demographic structures directly and indirectly affects economic and social aspects. Demographic transition provides some opportunities (e.g. the working age population reaches the highest level) and bears some risks (e.g. ageing population) that Turkey has not confronted before. By taking the demographic changes into consideration, Turkey should review social policies for elderly. In this framework, this article studies the demographic changes of Turkey up to 2050 and current situation of social services and social assistance. Social services and social assistance subtitle of the article analyzes both current situation and recent structural and institutional implications. The last subtitle of the article analyzes the main policy papers and their objectives and priorities towards elderly. The article also highlights the importance of the efforts for having a National Plan of Action on Ageing at the very beginning of the ageing process.

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