Support for the elderly with the 'From Heart to Heart' project in Çavdır

The 'From Heart to Heart' project, initiated under the leadership of our university's Çavdır Vocational School, aims to support elderly individuals living alone. The project, carried out with the active participation of students from the Çavdır Vocational School Elderly Care and Social Services Program, is being implemented in cooperation with the Çavdır District Governorship and Çavdır Municipality. The project aims to reduce the feeling of loneliness among elderly individuals, support their physical and mental health, and ensure their greater participation in social life.

Within the scope of the project, elderly individuals identified each week are visited by the same students. Thus, a strong bond is established between the students and the elderly. During the visits, various activities are organized to facilitate the daily lives of elderly individuals. Exercises suitable for elderly individuals are conducted to increase physical mobility. At the same time, various mental activities and board games are played to strengthen the mental skills of the elderly and support their protection against diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia.

Students help elderly individuals develop their hand-eye coordination by doing psychomotor exercises with them. Additionally, by sharing memories of the past in a conversational environment, they contribute to reviving the memories of the elderly and strengthening their social bonds. The “From Heart to Heart” project assists elderly individuals living alone in various matters to help them maintain their daily lives more comfortably. Students accompany elderly individuals on market and doctor visits, support them in pharmacy and grocery shopping. Moreover, they provide information about public services to help elderly individuals handle official procedures more easily.

Especially for elderly individuals who have difficulty adapting to the digital world, guidance is provided on the use of smartphones and the internet. Thus, it is aimed for elderly individuals to use social media and communication applications more effectively and to communicate more easily with distant relatives.

Çavdır Vocational School Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Öçal stated that the project offers a great opportunity not only for elderly individuals but also for students, saying, “While our students have the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge, they develop their empathy skills by establishing strong bonds with elderly individuals. Through this project, we aim to improve the quality of life of elderly individuals and ensure they take active roles in society.”

Çavdır Mayor Ali Okan Yücel stated that as a municipality, they always support efforts to improve the living standards of elderly individuals, while Çavdır District Governor Kübra Nur Taşçı emphasized the great importance of the project in terms of social solidarity.

The 'From Heart to Heart' project, which has attracted great interest in the Çavdır district and raised awareness in the community, is planned to reach more elderly individuals in the future. It is aimed to increase the number of volunteer students and organize different activities within the scope of the project.

This project, which is of great importance for elderly individuals to participate more in social life and for students to gain a sense of social responsibility, is a model that can set an example for other districts and provinces in the future. This meaningful solidarity movement initiated in Çavdır greatly contributes to increasing awareness towards elderly individuals in society and improving their quality of life.