Our Minister of Family and Social Services Derya Yanık said: “Elderliness is a grace of God. Not everybody gets the chance of growing old. I believe we should be thankful for growing old.”
Our Minister Yanık visited Ankara Seyranbağları Nursing Homes Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Centre on 1 October International Day of Elder Persons.
Yanık, who paid a visit to the model exhibition, in which Ataturk's Monumental Tomb and Hagia Sophia Mosque take place, done by Doğruer Kubilay, one of the residents of the nursing home, have been informed by Kubilay on model making.
Yanık visited the Digital Spring Room created through the protocol signed with Turkcell and played gammon on tablet with residents of the nursing home.
Yanık, who made a video call with elders who reside in Maltepe Nursing Home in İstanbul, celebrated the 1 October International Day of Elder Persons.
Yanık played bocce on the garden of the nursing home and then watched the game between two teams of elders.
After the game, Yanık presented amity cup for day of remembrance.
Yanık, who came together with the residents of the nursing home at the garden, gave presents to the elders.
Yanık listened to the “Life in Nursing Home” poem written by Abbas Kemal Arslan, one of the residents of the nursing home, and folk songs by Ahmet Münir Acuner.
“It is really nice to be with you”
Minister Yanık, during her speech, said that she tries to come together with children and elders whenever possible and it is really nice to meet residents of nursing home.
Yanık speaking on elderliness said: “Rumour has it that His Holiness İbrahim was the first person whose hair turned grey. Before him hair and beard would not turn grey. God does this with His Holiness İbrahim because he wants to show that long life is a grace. Therefore growing old is a grace of God. Not everyone has the chance of growing old. I believe we should be thankful since we get the chance of growing old.”
Yanık pointing out that growing old also means having experience said: “I wish it would be possible to listen to you. It is really important to have you get together with the youth and children, to make them benefit from your experiences, to broaden their life horizon, for them to learn of what they should be careful and what they should do from your experience. We will carry out works for this in the following days.
Yanık emphasized that elders are always the jewel in the crown they must be respected.
At the end of the programme, Minister Yanık cut a cake and had her photos taken with the residents of the nursing home.