Abstract:

The social welfare policies for the elderly are formed according to the political, social and economic policies of the countries and are determining the quality of life of individuals. Although global aging is an important agenda throughout the world, the lack of a systematic and comprehensive data collection mechanism on the social well-being of elderly is a well-known fact. However, implementing the right and effective social policies towards the elderly will be possible with healthy data. International HelpAge, a United Nations affiliate organization, has since 2013 evaluated the country’s social welfare policies and practices towards elderly individuals according to the Global Ageing Monitoring Index. The Global Ageing Monitoring Index is based on an assessment of multiple factors that determine the social and economic well-being of elderly people and provides important clues to the country’s elderly well-being. The aim of this study is based on the data and documents of the United Nations and the International HelpAge Organization, in the framework of the data of 3 years (2013, 2014, 2015) from the beginning of the measurement of the Global Ageing Monitoring Index to the present day; the main indicators affecting the social well-being of the elderly, the country comparisons, the place in the index of Turkey and the social well-being perspective in terms of age. Considering the current index indicators, it seems that the social welfare policies of Turkey towards the elderly remain below the desired level.

Abstract:

Social welfare policies for the elderly are depends on to the political, social and economic policies of the countries and determines the quality of life of individuals. Although, global aging is an important agenda of the world, it is a known fact that the systematic and comprehensive data collection mechanism for the social welfare of the elderly is quite inadequate. However, an effective social policies towards the elderly people will be possible with correct and clearly data. The International HelpAge, an organization affiliated to the United Nations, has been evaluating the social welfare policies and practices of the countries towards elderly people since 2013, according to the criteria of the Global AgeWatch Index. The Global AgeWatch Index is based on the evaluation of multiple dimensions that determine the social and economic well-being of the elderly people and gives important clues about the countries' elderly people welfare. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Global AgeWatch Index based on the data and documents of the United Nations and International HelpAge Organization in 2013, 2014 and 2015; fundemantal indicators affecting the welfare and quality of life of the elderly people, country comparisons, Turkey's status in the index, and will attempt to compare countries take place out of view in terms of social welfare in elderly people. Considering the current index indicators, Turkey's social welfare policy for the older people is seen that remain below desired levels.

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