🟦 Nursing Home and Village Visits within the Scope of the Sociology of Aging Course

As part of the Sociology of Aging course, led by Dr. Zuhal Güler, a faculty member of the Department of Sociology, practical fieldwork activities were conducted with the aim of providing students with hands-on experience and fostering intergenerational interaction.
 

📍 First Visit Held at İzzet Baysal Nursing Homes

First-shift Sociology students visited İzzet Baysal Nursing Home on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, while second-shift students visited İzzet Baysal Foundation Nursing Home on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

During the visits, students engaged in one-on-one conversations with the elderly residents, listened to their life stories, and witnessed their emotions and thoughts. Through interviews, meaningful insights were gathered regarding the experiences of aging. The elders expressed their satisfaction in passing on their life experiences and accumulated wisdom to younger generations. Our students encountered not only theoretical knowledge but also values such as humanity, patience, solidarity, and the preciousness of life.
 

💬 Our Elders Are the Silent Witnesses of Life

These visits raised strong awareness among our students about the role, meaning, and value of elderly individuals in social life. They came to understand that our elders are not merely representatives of a generation, but also witnesses of the past, carriers of our cultural memory, and silent teachers of life. These meaningful encounters reinforced their appreciation for the elderly and the importance of seeing them at the heart of social life.
 

🚶‍♀️ Field Practice to Continue with Village Visits

The applied learning process will continue with village visits to be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Within this scope, both first and second-shift students will travel to the villages of Yumrukaya and Gölköy, located in the central district of Bolu, to conduct interviews with individuals aged 65 and over. These interviews will allow students to analyze the phenomenon of aging within the context of rural life.
 

🌿 Theory Met Practice, Values Were Shared

This field-based aspect of sociology education contributed to the students’ academic and personal development. These visits proved to be more than just a course activity; they became valuable learning experiences that transformed young people’s perspectives on the elderly, fostered empathy, and enhanced their social sensitivity.