The Future of Elderly Care Shared with Nursing Students

Haber tarihi: 21/05/2026

Last update date: 21.05.2026

The “Conference on Elderly Care,” organized by the Social and Scientific Activities Committee of the Department of Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, was held on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Room A-204 with the participation of nearly 90 students. The event aimed to raise students’ awareness of the current state of elderly care and future career opportunities while broadening their professional perspectives through the experiences shared by an academic and practitioner specializing in the field.

The conference was moderated by Research Assistant Ozan Acar from the Department of Nursing. The guest speaker of the event was Lecturer Dr. Vildan Kandemir Bütün, faculty member at the Department of Nursing of İstinye University Faculty of Health Sciences and founder of Okyanus Elderly Care Centers. Nursing students Furkan Endakçı, Yonca Gül Şiran, and Fatma Özcan also took part in the organization of the event.

The program began with an introduction by Research Assistant Ozan Acar, who presented the academic and professional background of Dr. Kandemir Bütün. The introduction highlighted her undergraduate education at Istanbul University Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, her experience as a clinical nurse in the emergency and intensive care units at Şişli Etfal Hospital, and her three-year professional experience in the United Kingdom. Her managerial roles at the KASEV Foundation and Doğa Care Homes, participation in European Union-funded international projects, and palliative care courses completed at Harvard University were also shared with the audience. In addition, her PhD in Health Management at Üsküdar University and her academic positions at various universities were introduced to the participants.

During her approximately one-hour presentation, Dr. Kandemir Bütün shared her multifaceted professional journey in elderly care in detail. She spoke about her experiences ranging from clinical nursing and institutional management to consultancy and entrepreneurship, providing concrete examples from her career path. Evaluating the current state of elderly care in Türkiye in terms of legislation, infrastructure, and workforce requirements, she emphasized the growing importance of geriatric and palliative care in response to changing population demographics and the increasing burden of chronic diseases. Her insights encouraged students to reflect on the future of the nursing profession and its evolving role in elderly care services.

The conference concluded with Prof. Dr. Ükke Karabacak, Head of the Department of Nursing, presenting certificates of appreciation and delivering the closing remarks. The event proved to be highly productive in increasing nursing students’ awareness of elderly care and expanding their perspectives on the future of the field.

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