Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin emphasized that housing design and urban planning tailored to the care needs, daily activities, and self-sufficiency of older adults living alone have become essential: “By building age-friendly cities, we can improve our elders’ quality of life,” he said.
Noting that ergonomic arrangements are vital in an “age-friendly” home, Dr. Şevgin added: “With advancing technology, smart-home systems provide highly important functions for older individuals and make life easier.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin, Chair of Üsküdar University’s Healthy Aging Working Group and faculty member in the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, addressed the topics of seniors living alone and “age-friendly homes.”
One in Five Older Adults Is Chronically Lonely
Dr. Şevgin noted that loneliness—beyond physical isolation—can also be defined as a mental “sense of being cut off”: “Loneliness is common among older people and affects nearly one in three. Moreover, one in five older adults is classified as chronically lonely. As in the rest of the world, the elderly population in Türkiye is on the rise. In the past year, older adults have exceeded 10% of our total population, and they are increasingly living alone. Drivers include weakening family ties, the death of a spouse, rising divorce rates, declines in the desire to have children, socioeconomic factors, and younger generations’ preference for individual, independent living. We must develop strategies for older people who are becoming isolated due to these and similar factors.”
“Age-Friendly Cities” Have Become a Requirement
Highlighting the urgency of housing and urban planning for older adults’ care, in-home activities, and self-reliance, Dr. Şevgin continued:
“By building age-friendly cities, we can raise our elders’ quality of life. Likewise, preferring low-rise over high-rise development and enabling nature-integrated living will positively affect living standards for all of us. Urban planning should include wide, even, non-slip sidewalks; sensor-based traffic lights; curbside safety barriers; and elevators on pedestrian overpasses.”
Home Accidents Are Among the Biggest Threats to Seniors
“The most frequent accidents in older adults occur at home,” Dr. Şevgin said. “Falls, collisions, and injuries with sharp kitchen tools are the most common. Bathrooms, toilets, and stairs top the list of locations. Falls most often occur at night or in the early morning.”
Designing Homes for Seniors Prevents Many Accidents and Injuries
“The most effective way to prevent accidents is taking precautions—and that doesn’t change for older adults,” he noted. “Designing the home to suit seniors can prevent many accidents and injuries. Examples include using non-slip mats on slick floors; removing rugs unless necessary (and if used, choosing very thin ones); installing wall-mounted handrails in corridors; adding motion-sensor lights in corridors and bedrooms; and applying non-slip materials to stair treads. When buying a new home, check for adequate daylight, a floor that isn’t excessively high, and the presence of an elevator.”
Ergonomics and Smart-Home Systems Boost Quality of Life
“Ergonomic arrangements are crucial in an age-friendly home,” Dr. Şevgin said. “These include counter heights suited to the user, toilet heights adjusted to the person, threshold-free doorways, and glare-free lighting in a daylight tone.”
“With advancing technology, smart-home systems offer major advantages for older adults,” he added. “Examples include odor and smoke detectors, smart camera systems, reminder alarms, smart robotic devices (vacuum, oven, TV), and lighting.”
Mental health cannot be separated from one’s living environment, Dr. Şevgin stressed: “A bright, airy home; light-colored walls; and portraits on the wall that evoke memories can help older adults feel better.”
The Desire to Live Independently Depends on Health
“To realize the desire for independent living, one must first be healthy—physically, psychologically, and cognitively,” Dr. Şevgin said. “At least 150 minutes of physical activity per week is essential. Walking, light exercises, and using park equipment are all options. Socializing—meeting friends, strolling through markets—is vital for mental health. Solving puzzles, playing with grandchildren, and tending gardens also have very positive effects. Doing—or trying to do—all these activities supports good health, which in turn enables independent living and minimizes the need for care.”