About at the Gerontology

ABOUT THE GERONTOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Gerontology focuses on describing, explaining, and changing the physical, psychological, social, historical, and cultural elements of aging. This includes the institutions that influence and shape aging on a social and environmental level (Baltes & Baltes, 1192, p. 8).

TURKISH/ RUSSIAN/ GERMAN/ PERSIAN/ ARABIC

WHAT IS GERONTOLOGY?

Gerontology is the science of aging and old age. It is one of the scientific fields that seeks ways to intervene in the aging process. In a world where the proportion of the elderly population is increasing day by day, it is necessary to support older individuals not only with healthcare due to illnesses but also socially, to ensure they can continue their lives without isolation or dependence on others. Gerontology is a multidisciplinary, theoretical, and applied field of science.

FIELDS OF WORK FOR GERONTOLOGISTS

Graduates of Gerontology departments can work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, ministries (such as health, family, and social policies), retirement homes, family counseling centers, day care centers, universities, research centers, companies developing new services/products, non-governmental organizations, local governments, and home care services.
Since there is also a need for scientists to conduct primarily theoretical research in gerontology, those who wish to pursue an academic career can enroll in Master's and Doctoral programs.

COURSES IN THE GERONTOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Introduction to Gerontology
Introduction to Psychology
Medical Biology
Sociology of Aging
Atatürk's Principles and History of Turkish Reforms
Turkish Language
Career Planning
English
Use of Information Technologies
Biology of Aging
Psychological Aging
Rational Drug Use in the Elderly
Scientific Research Methods
Anthropology of Aging and Health
Planning for Aging and Elderly Health
Basic Medical Skills
Professional English
Japanese
Theories of Biogerontology
Philosophy of Science
Elder Rights
Forensic Gerontology
Geriatrics
Health Economics
Internal Medicine
Health Behavior and Health Literacy
Deontology
Biodemography
Aging and Inequality
Accounting
Biostatistics and Computer Applications
Gerontological Rehabilitation
First Aid and Emergency Intervention
Nutrition in Aging
Intergenerational Relations
Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence
Complementary Medicine Practices in Gerontology
Special Topics in Gerontology
Gerontological Occupational Therapy
Dependency and Elderly Care
Social Sensitivity and Contribution Projects
Active and Healthy Aging
Biological Anti-Aging
Therapy and Intervention for Geriatric Patients and Their Families
Aging, Architecture, and Environment
Education in Old Age
Graduation Project
Social Policy and Aging
Clinical Practices in Gerontology and Geriatrics
Professional Practice
Gerodontology
Speech and Language Disorders in the Elderly
Geriatric Physiotherapy
Palliative Care in the Elderly
Management of Elderly Care Institutions
Professional Supervision and Reporting
Occupational Health and Safety
Gerontechnology
Gerontological Assessment
Therapeutic Approaches in the Elderly
Prevention of Diseases and Health Promotion in Older Age
Environmental Gerontology

Occupational Information

Occupation Code: 2269.13

Occupation Title: Gerontologist

Major Group: Professionals
Sub-major Group: Health Professionals
Unit Group: Other Health Professionals
Required Minimum Education Level: Bachelor's Degree

National Occupational Standard Gerontologist Level 6

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GERONTOLOGY

In the early stages of scientific gerontology (after World War I), the biological aspects of aging were primarily examined. After World War II, priority shifted to the study of its social and psychological dimensions. Today, in addition to social, psychological, biological, and medical perspectives, aging is also being researched on many other levels, including philosophical, cultural, historical, theological, and ecological dimensions. New fields such as gerontosociology, gerontopsychology, and gerontopsychiatry have also emerged. Different branches of science attempt to examine and explain the phenomenon of aging within their own domains and through their own methods. Gerontology, building on this body of knowledge, seeks ways to intervene in the processes of aging. Therefore, it defines itself as an interdisciplinary field of science.
Information about the history of gerontology has been compiled by Prof. Hans-Werner Wahl (2004) (See: Wahl, H.-W. (2004): Entwicklung gerontologischer Forschung, (pp. 29-48). In A. Kruse & M. Martin (Ed.), Enzyklopädie der Gerontologie. Bern et al.: Huber).

The establishment of the Gerontology Department at Akdeniz University under the leadership of Prof. Dr. phil. habil. İsmail Tufan in 2006, with the approval of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), marks the beginning of a new era for science in Turkey. For the first time, aging, aging processes, and old age were regarded not only within biological and medical limitations but also recognized as social and psychological phenomena. It is expected that in the future, with the addition of new disciplines, the connections of aging with fields such as economics, politics, culture, history, philosophy, and theology will also be discovered and explored.

It took 15 years of effort before the Gerontology Department could be established. The foundation laid in Berlin in 1991, representing just one phase of the project, indicated that this process would gain momentum in the following period. However, one of the fundamental prerequisites for this is increasing the recognition and awareness of Gerontology in Turkey.

One of the experiences gained during the "gerontological process" we brought to Turkey in 1999 was that even among experts, the recognition of Gerontology as a concept and field of science remained very low. Naturally, this raised the following question: If even within the academic community, there are so few specialists who can explain what Gerontology is, how can young people preparing for university be expected to decide whether or not to study Gerontology? As the American scientist Metehan said, “It is not possible for people who do not know the concept of an 'elephant' to recognize one when they see it.”
Therefore, Gerontology must become widely recognized in Turkey.

HISTORIC MOMENTS FOR THE GERONTOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Founding of the National Society for Social and Applied Gerontology: 2004

1st International Symposium on Social and Applied Gerontology: 2005

Establishment of the Department: 2006

Commencement of Education and Training: 2009

First Graduating Class: 2013

Founding of the Gerontologists Association: 2016

Transition to the Faculty of Health Sciences: 2018

First Public Sector Employment: November 21, 2019

Inclusion of the Gerontology Department in the YLSY Program (Graduate Studies Abroad Scholarship Program): 2019

OUR LOGO
One way to promote something is by making use of symbols. Following this logic, the idea emerged that the Gerontology Department at Akdeniz University needed an emblem. This idea materialized in 2001. Our emblem was designed by us that year, but since the Gerontology Department had not yet been established at that time, the emblem was set aside for future use. Later, the Higher Education Council (YÖK) regulations were reviewed to answer the following question: Does YÖK grant university departments the authority to use an emblem, or does it prohibit it?
No statement was found in the Higher Education Council regulations explicitly stating that a department can or cannot have an emblem. Therefore, there is no binding rule in this regard. This situation allows departments to have their own emblems. The Department of Gerontology at the Faculty of Science and Letters at Akdeniz University took advantage of this opportunity, patented its emblem, and began using it.
As with any innovation, the fact that a department used an emblem for the first time might have been met with surprise. However, in our opinion, this should be seen as a pioneering initiative that sets an example for other departments.

The emblem of Akdeniz University’s Gerontology Department, featuring a blue tulip with the founding year "2006" written on it, placed on a yellow-orange background, is not created solely for "promotional" purposes.
Taking into account the deep meanings of symbols, which are not immediately perceptible from the outside, we aim through our emblem to convey and instill our motivating visions, missions, and ethical ideals to our staff, students, and the wider society.
All of our verbal or nonverbal behaviors are observable human actions and, besides many other features, they possess symbolic meanings; thus, we interpret everything from gestures to meaningful symbols.
While trying to shape the world we live in, the society we are part of, and our goal-oriented efforts, we always try to assign symbolic qualities to our undertakings, thereby expanding our horizons based on interpretation (Soeffner, 2007, p. 166).
For this reason, we believe that initiatives and symbols that can remind us and others of our efforts, goals, and perhaps unreachable but ideal visions are needed not only in the field of Gerontology but throughout society.

Our logo was designed by Prof. Dr. phil. habil. İsmail Tufan and has been officially registered by our university.

Reference:
Soeffner, H.-G. (2007). "Social Science Hermeneutics," in U. Flick, E. von Kardorff & I. Steinke (Eds.), Qualitative Research: A Handbook (5th ed., pp. 164–174). Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt.