Housing for Ageing Populations in Turkey

Abstract

Despite having a young population for decades, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) projects that Turkey will be among the countries consisting mainly of elderly citizens by the middle of the 21st century. This study aims to investigate the potentials and limitations of the housing stock and housing policy in Turkey to cope with the implications of the ageing population. The study incorporates the quantitative analysis of the country-level demographic and housing statistics data (TURKSTAT, United Nations, World Bank), literature review, observation, archival research on relevant media coverage, and the reports of government institutions. The results of the analysis revealed that an ageing population might result in a housing provision crisis for the elderly in Turkey in terms of the number, affordability, and quality. The results indicate that Turkey needs not only to initiate policy and strategies for developing housing designated primarily for the elderly but also to re-evaluate the conditions of existing housing stock and neighbourhoods in terms of ‘ageing in place'. While this study served to provide a foundation and a framework for the housing need of the elderly as a separate housing policy area, further case studies should be conducted to gain a better insight into ageing populations and to respond to their housing needs.