This study was planned to determine how the elderly people living in Giresun during the COVID-19 epidemic process evaluated the epidemic process and their views on the effects of this process on the elderly. To this end, interviews consisting of semi-structured questions were applied to a total of 20 participants, 11 women and 9 men. The study’s potential participant sample was selected taking into account various characteristics such as gender, marital status, health status, socioeconomic status and level of education. Participants are between 65 and 93 years old. The findings obtained in the study prepared with phenomenological approach among qualitative research designs were analyzed by descriptive analysis method. This study focuses on the perception of COVID-19, factors effective in dealing with the epidemic, the effects of COVID-19 on the elderly (psychological effects, social and cultural effects, economic effects), strategies developed in changing daily life practices and the effects of the geographical environment. The elderly rate (9.1%) in our population is constantly increasing. For this reason, we believe that the study will contribute to the planning of services for the elderly population. According to the findings, Giresun’s being a small-scale city and the existence of dual life (rural and urban life) created a positive effect in this process. It was determined that there was no major change in the daily lives of the participants, especially those owning gardens, connection with rural life and extended family structure. It has been observed that religious belief and understanding of destiny are also important in the approach and coping strategy regarding the epidemic. In this process, it was determined that gender roles continued, male participants were mostly in the public sphere, and women were engaged in housework such as cleaning and hygiene. It was determined that economically disadvantaged elderly people had a harder time in this process and some participants living alone visited their children reluctantly. At the beginning of the research, the participants’ approaches to the management of the epidemic process were seen as relatively positive. However, the introduction of curfews for the population aged 65 and over, and the timing and content of the free day practice, paved the way for the intensification of negative emotions in the participants. Therefore, it is thought that the restrictions and measures in the epidemic process, would be more beneficial to be implemented at local base, taking into account the health conditions, natural-cultural structure and spatial characteristics of the place of residence rather than chronological age.
Primary Language | Turkish |
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Subjects | Human Geography |
Journal Section | Research Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | December 31, 2020 |
Acceptance Date | December 1, 2020 |
Published in Issue | Year 2020 |
Yayıncı: Türk Coğrafya Kurumu