Ege 3rd Age University focuses on earthquake survivors over the age of 60 in this semester’s training.
Continuing its activities at Ege University, “Ege 3rd Age University” continues its education with the lessons given by volunteer instructors so that individuals over the age of 60 are healthier, more productive and active.
Ege 3. Yas University Project Coordinator, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Diseases faculty member Assoc. Dr. Sevnaz Şahin made statements about the project within the scope of “Respect for the Elderly Week”. Assoc. Dr. Şahin said, “The elderly population in the society is increasing at a very serious rate. As Turkey, we are aging rapidly. Because the elderly do not only have health demands. It is not possible for us to ignore their various demands such as education, culture and social activities. In this context, in order not to isolate our elderly people from the information society, we implemented our social responsibility project called “Aegean 3rd Age University” in 2016. Our students who come here increase their social networks as well as gaining knowledge. In addition, he can lead a healthy life by learning various body movements and dance figures.
“The contributions of the project affect every generation”
Stating that Ege 3rd Age University contributes to young people as well as older individuals, Assoc. Dr. Sevnaz Şahin said, “Currently, we have close to a thousand students. Students can graduate by working in at least one social responsibility project after their 3-year education. This leads them to work permanently in non-governmental organizations. We have graduated 225 students so far. Many of our graduates still work actively in non-governmental organizations today. Another contribution of the project stands out as the awareness of the students who graduated from our university in intergenerational communication. With the projects we do, the elderly; They pass on their experience and knowledge to young people. This increases intergenerational communication. The elderly individual, whose communication channel is versatile, can enter into a healthier relationship with his own family. Unfortunately, in recent years, we have experienced disasters caused by pandemics and earthquakes that affect both our individual and social health. Our school focused on what can be done for the elderly, who are among the groups most at risk of being harmed in these extraordinary situations that affect us all. In the past 3 years, we have transformed our pandemic-centered education into a disaster-centered one and focused on the theme of supporting the elderly in disasters. This year, we wanted to raise social awareness about disasters and the elderly during the ‘Respect for the Elder Week’.
“We offer social support to our elderly people who are exposed to earthquakes”
Stating that after the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, the students provided social support to the earthquake victims, Assoc. Dr. Şahin said, “Our students, who quickly organized and created a social resistance during the pandemic process, display the same attitude towards the earthquake disaster today. We all know that our social support networks are one of the most effective ways to heal wounds after an earthquake. Our social support networks; It starts with our family and relatives, expands as our friends, social groups we belong to, and non-governmental organizations. In this process, 3rd year students established solidarity groups in order to increase the social support of their peers who were exposed to the earthquake. In order for this solidarity to be in the most appropriate form, we planned 22 hours of Post-Disaster Peer Support Training for the Elderly, certified by the Continuing Education Center, and provided training to nearly 200 individuals over the age of 60. Our Rector Prof. Dr. I would like to thank our University and Faculty of Medicine senior management, especially Necdet Budak.”
“We met a new world thanks to the university”
Saying that the project brought many innovations to his life, Ege 3rd Yas University graduate, retired teacher Osman Tartılacı said, “Thanks to the school, I had the opportunity to meet very nice people. It is said that university friends are permanent. My friends I met at our university were like that for me. The synergy here impressed me so much that, despite my graduation, I still voluntarily take part in the team that actively participates in the implementation of the program we call the kitchen. I can say that I met a new world. Here, people gain self-confidence and can integrate into the modern world by putting aside their attitudes that are closed to knowledge and innovation. For example, the transformation of the whole world to digital with the pandemic process has led us to this. Most of my classmates, who are not related to technology, have easily integrated into this new life and have a digital knowledge. The contribution of our university in this sense is very important.”
At Ege 3rd Age University, individuals over the age of 60; In addition to the theoretical courses of geriatrics, archeology, public health, mythology, palliative care, care in sickness and health, psychology, she also learns practical practical courses such as psychodrama, tango, folk dances, knitting, aikido, yoga, and text workshops.
Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency
