As the 65+ Elderly Rights Association, we have argued since our foundation that individuals should age “without becoming isolated, deprived and impoverished” and that this is the responsibility of society and the state.
For this reason, we feel the need to share our concerns about the conditions of the the elderly in the current economic situation in our country.
As is well known, the elderly population is increasing in our country. Most of this elderly population is trying to survive on pensions. However, the cost of living, which has increased significantly since September 2021, has started to affect the elderly population of our country in a very negative way by rapidly eroding this limited salary income.
Under these conditions, it is becoming difficult to meet even essential needs such as housing, food, heating and health. We observe that elderly people have difficulty in meeting their basic health needs and are afraid of going to the doctor and entering the pharmacy.
It has become impossible for the elderly to participate in social and cultural activities, to go on vacation and travel beyond their basic needs. Moreover, it is often forgotten that the pension is not only the income of the pensioner but is also used to support a whole family. Pensions eroding in the face of inflation render this important support mechanism inoperable.
While there is such a significant erosion in purchasing power, the low rate of increase in pensions, which is the most important item of the elderly’s income, has reduced the income of many elderly people even below the minimum wage. Between 2002 and 2023, the minimum wage increased 46-fold from 186TL to 8507TL, while the lowest pension increased 26-fold from 213TL to 5500TL. With this limited income, the living conditions of the elderly population, especially in the big cities of our country, have become noticeably more difficult. This situation is not only limited to the physical and material problems of the elderly but also makes them feel excluded and forgotten in psychological and social terms.
It is of utmost importance that inflation, which affects the entire population of the country, is brought under control as soon as possible and that income items affecting the elderly population, such as pensions, are brought to levels that will not reduce the real income of this group but even improve it.
We believe that it is our duty to draw attention to the urgency of the issue to all concerned.