Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Hacettepe Ãœniversitesi, Ä°.Ä°.B.F Sosyal Hizmet, ANKARA Increase in the average quality of life in line with technological changes, low birth and mortality rates, and widening of the community health services cause world population get older and chronic illnesses grow fast. Furthermore, the fact that family today gradually loses its traditional roles results in the care problem of the elderly people getting harder. The increase in the share of the elderly people, of the people with chronic illnesses and of the handicapped in the expenditures of health and social services results in the fact that developed countries give up institutional and residential regulations, and orient towards the health and social care services that are periodical, effective, lower costing, and based on client satisfaction. This social work centered approach called client-centered community based care is a service model which necessitates teamwork and aims at providing the individual in need of care with the knowledge and social life skills to survive and protect her independence, giving the support and assistance she needs in order to maintain her life at her own home, and offering work, recreation and other facilities in order to fulfill her social functioning. Keywords : Client-centered community based care, Home care, Day care services, Social policy orientation, Social services