Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş met with the residents of Maltepe Nursing Home Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Center on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons

During her visit to Maltepe Nursing Home, Minister Göktaş visited the handicraft exhibition of the residents of the institution. Göktaş shook hands with the residents of the nursing home and then accompanied the music concert.

In her speech there, Göktaş stated that she was very touched by the folk song "Mihriban" sung by Ahmet Barak from Sivas, a resident of the nursing home, and said, "'Mihriban' was my grandfather's favorite folk song. I lost my grandfather last year. I spent my childhood with my grandfather and grandmother. He had a grocery store. I grew up in that grocery store. In that grocery store, it was actually my grandfather who raised me to the day and had made endless amounts of efforts to raise me. May Allah have mercy on him. Through this occasion I could also honor my grandparents."

Göktaş stated that the older persons were the guides that inspired them and continued: "The values that you will pass on to us, to the new generations, are so valuable that we cannot thank you enough."

Pointing out that institutional care service attached great importance to them, Göktaş said that she was pleased with the feedback received there today.

Minister Göktaş stated that the Ministry reached older persons in nursing homes and care centers spread all over the country and said, "We provide care and rehabilitation services to all older persons with or without social security within the framework of quality standards. We are working to improve the quality of life of older persons and encourage their participation in social life."

Stating that she was happy that the couple sitting next to her were bocce athletes, Göktaş said that the exhibition consisting of products made by the residents of the nursing home with their handicrafts was also very valuable.

"Consider me your daughter"

“In one of his speeches, Mr. President H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that for the nation of ours, even the prayers of the parents without any other expectation was a sufficient reason to serve them for a lifetime. The biggest gain was to receive the prayers of you, the elders." Göktaş said and noted the following:

"It is worth all our efforts to see your beautiful faces in return for the efforts you have made for us. Providing you with a safe and peaceful environment is a sacred task and a great achievement for us. We will continue to work hard for this. On October 1, I, once again, congratulate you on International Day of Older Persons. I share my gratitude. Consider me your daughter as well. Do not forget that I am putting you, each of you, in the place of my grandparents. I salute you all with love."

Following her speech, Minister Göktaş celebrated with the residents of the nursing home by slicing a cake and chatting with them.