ELDERLY IN BETWEEN: THE EFFECTS OF MIGRATION FROM RURAL TO URBAN AREAS ON THE ELDERLY

Abstract

As a consequence of migration from rural to urban areas, which gained momentum since the 1950's, younger people have moved to cities but the elderly were either remained to live in the emptied villages in both winter and summer times, or moved back and forth between the two in different times of the year. The subject of this study is to find out the socio-economic profiles and life-satisfaction of this latter group that remained in between the two. Elderly individuals focused on this study are those who have born in villages but, currently, can only live in their villages in summer and move to urban areas, mostly to Istanbul, in times of winter. As shown in the study, if possible, they would like to remain in their own villages with their partners, and, if he or she is past, then with their children. The data is collected through both quantitative and qualitative techniques. A questionnaire form is applied in the Zara district of the city of Sivas, to 436 individuals over 65 years old from 20 different villages, who live in those villages in summer times and move to urban areas in winters. Also as a qualitative technique, both elderly individuals and officials from related government institutions are interviewed in-depth.