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Key Words: elderly service, geriatric
care
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Letter to Editor,
It is well known that the
world population is aging rapidly. In this sense,
Turkey can be categorized as an aging society, considering
the demographic allocation of those over 65 years
of age. Even more, when statistical figures are analyzed,
Turkey is predicted to be an elder society in the
near future(1). With the elderly population
increasing rapidly, demand for service for the elderly
rises proportionally. As a result, there is a significant
necessity for services benefiting the elderly, to
increase on a similar scale.
Currently in Turkey, facilities
for the necessities of the geriatric population are
being rapidly developed and Izmir Narlidere Geriatric
Care Center and Residential Home is the largest of
those organizations serving the elderly since 2001.
The above-mentioned nursing home has a capacity of
1100 elderly, and has currently 850 geriatric residents;
670 of those capable of self-care, and 180 incapable
of self care. The elderly residents are able to benefit
from health and social services with a small amount
of individual payment, due to the fact that their
health expenditures are paid by the public and private
health insurances.
Health services are handled
effectively by full-time primary care physicians.
Additionally, sufficient number of nurses, health
aides, physiotherapists, social workers, clinical
psychologists, radiology technicians and assistant
personnel are also present to ensure the well-being
of the residents. Main blocks accommodate those capable
of self-care while those incapable of self-care are
made comfortable in the geriatric care center. The
majority of those incapable of self-care suffer from
dementia and similar chronic diseases and are bed
ridden. They are cared for in rooms accommodating
mostly two people. Close care is initiated
by nurses attending in-service
education programs on a regular basis. This facility
also provides numerous job opportunities for health
aides who are required to follow similar continuous
in-service education programs.
Izmir Narlidere Geriatric
Care Center and Residential Home is affiliated with
the closest university hospital in the region. The
facility is able to initiate radiological procedures
and the university hospital assists in procedures
involving laboratory work and complicated procedures
and conditions.
Izmir Narlidere Geriatric
Care Center and Residential Home is widely preferred
by European nursing instructors and students who study
in Turkish universities with regard to European Exchange
programs such as Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci. Furthermore,
the facility is also an integral part of medical students'
internship and practice. It is undeniable that the
nursing home is an important ground of practice of
geriatrics for family medicine physicians. It is quite
possible that the nursing home can be a special training
area for family medicine residents in the near future.
Izmir Narlidere Geriatric
Care Center and Residential Home is located in a decent
part of the city, by the coast, close to pine forests;
and facilities are convenient and safe for elderly
residents, including hobby areas, swimming pool and
physiotherapy units. The rooms for housing are either
for one or two persons. Also, apart from interior
sections, an amphitheater, a large sera and a small
private forest are also operational for the benefit
of the facility(2).
Though organized as a modern
and capable facility, Izmir Narlidere Geriatric Care
Center and Residential Home still is in need of additional
units. Some of these necessities are setting up a
laboratory, organizing support from professional geriatrists,
inclusion of more physiotherapists,
social workers and psychologists and the presence
of occupational therapists replacing medical instructors.
Consequently,
though there is still room for facilitative improvement.
Izmir Narlidere Geriatric Care Center and Residential
Home resembles an emerging role model in a developing
and aging country and successfully serves the Turkish
elderly.
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