Mekân ve Yaşlılık İstanbul un Farklı Bölgelerinde Yaşlılık ve Mekânsal Pratikler

Abstract

Elderliness has been a matter of research, among the other current issues subject to the agenda of sociology. The subject of “elderliness” has started to be addressed in a different aspect in this period within the framework of the changing circumstances of Türkiye. Regarding social issues, the importance of the transition to a country with an aging population has been addressed in the last couple of months. On the other hand, changes, and transformations have started to appear along with this newly emerging formation. The present study discusses the matter of elderliness and focuses on the relationship between the elderly and space by considering that the individual cannot be thought of independently of space. Questions including to what extent are the elderly living in urban content with the space, do they feel belong in the place where they live, how do they react to changing location, what types of opportunities does space provide them, does space have a holistic or separatist attitude toward the elderly form the basis of this study. Within the scope of this research, the content of research questions, including the opinions of the elderly on their spatial perception, sense of belonging, and expectations, was discussed with reference to the perspective of Henri Lefebvre’s approach to the concept of space. Within the framework of the present study, people aged 65 and over who have been living in different habitats were interviewed to assess the spatial practices of the elderly. Their spatial relations were analyzed and those sharing practices related to the space were particularly stressed. In this sense, two different district examples were addressed and a study on the evaluation of spatial change, production of space, spatial perception, as well as the elderly’s relations with space was provided. For the present study, the districts of Kadikoy and Bagcilar and a sample group consisting of individuals aged 65 and over were selected, and ten individuals who are residents of the districts of Kadikoy and Bagcilar were interviewed.