Three Decades of Gerontology in Türkiye: Historical Foundations, Multidisciplinary Growth, and Future Horizons

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 151 - 166, 31.12.2024

Fatma Sıla Ayan

https://doi.org/10.51819/jaltc.2024.1595469

Abstract

The history of science is a field that not only outlines the chronological progression of studies across various disciplines but also reveals the social, historical, and economic developments that led to the emergence and growth of these fields. It involves both the compilation of research in different areas and the evaluation of the historical conditions that interact with these studies. Although Gerontology in Türkiye has included numerous struggles and noteworthy developments over the past 30 years, there are still few studies that assess this brief period. This paper will examine the phenomenon of demographic change in Türkiye, utilizing a combination of externalist approaches to the history of science, addressing the past, present, and future of gerontology. By nature, the mission of science to improve human life quality and clarify the contextual frameworks surrounding human beings has triggered the birth and rapid development of gerontology after these transformations. Understanding and shaping these phenomena related to aging and old age from a gerontological perspective may serve as an effective key to achieving goals such as improved quality of life, social integration, productivity, and sustainable development.

Keywords

Gerontology in Türkiye, History of Gerontology, Aging Policies and Interventions, Multidisciplinary Aging Studies, Demographic Transformation, Gerontological Education and Practice

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