Expectations of the older people from housing in the context of aging in place: the case of Afyonkarahisar City (Türkiye)

Many countries around the world are witnessing a period of significant demographic changes. As a developing country, Türkiye is also experiencing a rapid aging and urbanization process. Changes in Türkiye’s population structure have caused the country’s population to face the phenomenon of aging. According to the United Nations (UN), the ratio of the population aged 65 and over to the total population worldwide has increased from 6% in 1990 to 9.8% in 2022. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data, while the older population rate in Türkiye is 9.9% in 2022, the older population rate in Afyonkarahisar is 11.8%. This study aims to determine the expectations of individuals aged 65 and over regarding their housing in Afyonkarahisar city center from the perspective of aging in place. It is also one of the few studies that examine the relationship of individuals with the environment and space in the context of urban aging and aging in place. Various hypotheses were formed for the research. To test these hypotheses, a questionnaire was applied to 374 older adults in the sample area determined in the city. In the study, explanatory factor analysis and difference tests were used to examine the factors affecting the housing preferences of older adults. According to the factor analysis results, the dimensions determining the housing expectations of older adults include housing facilities, housing size, housing type, toilet and bathroom use.