Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the demographic features, socio-economic status, health problems, and daily living activities of the elderly population. In 1998, 589 elderly persons were selected from totally 2325 persons over age of 60 years old in Pasinler Town by using ¼ cluster sample method. A questionnaire was applied to 564 subjects in 17 clusters 49.6% of the subjects was male, and 50.4% female. 32.8% of all were divorced or widow. The illiteracy was 57.8% in both sex, 79.9% in females. Only 2.6% of the elderly had been reading a newspaper daily, and it was determined that 23% had not participated in any social events. It was found out that 88.3% of the subjects had been living in their own house and 3.4% were alone. In the last year 13.8% of the elderly got involved at least one accident and the most common kind of accident was household accidents (56.4%). 37.6% the subjects had no health care insurance and 28.9% were smokers and 44.3% had been taking medicine regularly. Among medical problems, high rate of household accidents, ill dental and mouth health, having no health care insurance and high rate of smokers appear to be very important.