Introduction

The story of the legendary character Peter Pan living in Neverland begins with such words, ‘All children, except one, grow up’ (Barrie, 1911, p 3). J.M. Barrie's character Peter Pan is a child who will never grow up. This legendary story promulgated the myth that, while it was the fate of all children to grow old, this was not the case with Peter Pan. In reality, the children of Turkey today will be part of the future demographic trend towards rapid population ageing. Turkey is neither a Neverland nor are its young people endowed with the eternal youth of Peter Pan. While Turkey, at the present time, has a predominantly young and dynamic population, this will change in the near future due to declining fertility rates combined with increasing numbers of people living into old age. Turkey must accept that it, too, is becoming part of the worldwide trend towards population ageing.

In the light of the demographic revolution in the age composition of world populations, it seems reasonable and timely, therefore, for Turkey to investigate the following research questions: what is the course of ageing in its barest form and basic meaning in Turkey? What are the conditions of older adults based on sociological factors such as daily life, gender, marital status, education, work and income, health, and religion and ethnicity? What is the perspective of the state in Turkey towards ageing in the realm of social policy?

Drawing on the preceding information and questions, the issues of older people and ageing in Turkey are discussed in this chapter in terms of four main themes. First, the chapter begins with a discussion of the current dynamics relating to the demographics of population change in Turkey, and likely emerging challenges and future trends. Attention is thereby focused on comparing social change processes in Turkey with those in Europe by way of using seven sub-themes, namely: urbanisation, gender, marital status, education, work and income, health, religion and ethnicity. It is also the aim to highlight the emerging image of older people in Turkish society, and how the ageing process is being perceived within the wider societal context.

In order to foster a meaningful discussion on the preceding issues it was decided to source and analyse raw data from a number of relevant research projects.