Speaking at the 'Istanbul Asks the Elderly Forum' organized within the scope of the 'IMM by Your Side in Difficult Times' campaign, IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu“It is the duty of us managers to create an Istanbul where your satisfaction increases and to create a Turkey where your satisfaction grows. Mayors who serve like us, the day of the report of the politicians, is the day of the ballot box. I hope that when that day comes, we will get applause from you, you will give a passing grade to our report card, and the citizen will give us what we deserve when he uses that right. No one else can take back the rights of the people of Istanbul from you.”
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) organized the "Istanbul Asks the Elderly Forum" within the scope of the "IMM Stands by You in Difficult Times" campaign. The forum held at the Bülent Ecevit Cultural Center in Kartal, IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu and Kartal Mayor Gökhan Yüksel. In the forum; Using the services of IMM Health Department and Social Services Department, Aysel Sarman, Mermet Erdogan Seyfun, Fikret Taşkıran and Nurten Uyanık presented striking sections from their life stories. İmamoğlu, who was showing love to the elderly citizens who filled the hall, also made a speech at the forum.
“WE WILL NOT LEFT ANYONE BEHIND IN ISTANBUL”
Stating that every period of human life has its difficulties as well as its beauties, İmamoğlu said, “But there is something precious; not to be alone, not to be alone This is really important. To be able to get the support you need and meet some of your needs… No matter what age, actually, this is not just about our older adults, I'm talking about. Life, if you can't get these, gets a little heavy, a little burden, it can upset our people. In this sense, as IMM, we say with all my colleagues: We will not leave anyone behind in Istanbul. We will walk together, we will be together, we will watch everyone. But we will never leave behind a small child, but a family, but very respected elders like you.”
“The DAY OF THE POLITICIAN'S RECORD IS THE DAY OF THE BALLPOLL”
“You are our elders and being with you is not a blessing; It is our obligation and our responsibility,” said İmamoğlu, adding:
“In the most difficult moment, our Metropolitan Municipality will definitely stand by its people. And in this sense, if the people of Istanbul gave me the task of serving you, then I will give you their due, I will be worthy, and I hope you will pray for me with your good feelings and wishes. I am responsible to you. Mayors who serve like us, the day of the report of the politicians, is the day of the ballot box. I hope that when that day comes, we will get applause from you, you will give a passing grade to our report card, and the citizen will give us what we deserve when he uses that right. No one else can take back the rights of Istanbulites from you. You will vote at the ballot box. I really feel very responsible to you. Especially to our elders. Of course, I also feel responsible for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of this beautiful, heavenly homeland. Because when he gave us the Republic as a gift, he gave it to us with an extraordinarily valuable recipe: 'The Republic, which is the nobody of the homeless', he said. In that respect, we, as the sons and administrators of this Republic, will work with all our might so that no one in this country and in our city feels lonely.”
“WE PROVIDE HOME HEALTH AND CARE SERVICE TO 45 THOUSAND OLD CITIZEN”
Sharing the information that as İBB, they provide home health and care services to citizens aged approximately 45 thousand, İmamoğlu said, “We are very proud of this. In Darülaceze, which has the distinction of being the largest nursing and nursing home in Turkey, we have made every effort to increase the quality of service and to feel the satisfaction of everyone, and we will continue to do so. We are also making a great effort to improve and beautify the environment of our elders there. With Yaşam Evleri, we bring support and care services to the neighborhoods. We are proud to be together with our artist elders at the Artist Life House and we strive to provide them with the support and respect they deserve. We have started the construction of new nursing homes, new elderly care and rehabilitation centers, we have project preparations. We have centers that we have laid the groundwork for and are close to reaching a conclusion. Again, through the Institute Istanbul İSMEK, we have started intensive training programs for our seniors over the age of 65 and we are increasing the number of them.”
“1,5 MILLION YEARS OLD CITIZENS LIVE ALONE IN TURKEY”
Expressing that they opened courses to meet the current needs of 72 citizens with an average age of 2000 and to improve their digital skills, İmamoğlu said, “We act in accordance with the 'Local Equality Action Plan' while doing all our work. In this sense, we constantly measure our ability to act equally and wherever we are lacking, we make a special effort to make up for what we lack. In every new investment we make, in every service we offer, we implement services and projects for whichever group there is to be considered, especially at work. We determine these projects, especially by looking through the eyes of our elders, listening to their needs, trying to see the deficiencies, if any, renewing them and increasing our service quality," he said. Sharing the information that approximately 1,5 million citizens aged across Turkey live alone, İmamoğlu said, “One of the most important groups that have difficulty in living is our respected elders in this sense. We have a determination in this sense in Istanbul as well, and unfortunately, there is the presence of our elders in need.”
“IF THERE IS A COUNTRY IGNORING ITS BIGGERS, IT MEANS IGNORING ITS HISTORY”
Emphasizing that these problems cannot be solved by the means of municipalities alone, İmamoğlu said, “The people who run our country must act very sensitively in this regard and must ensure that they do not depend on anyone by meeting the needs of our elders. Because if there is a country that neglects its elders, it means that it neglects its own existence, its own past and its own values. We will never allow this. We will not allow this. It is our duty to all the rulers of this country and to us, to offer you the quality of life that you deserve, and to show you the respect that you deserve, not only in words but also in practices. If there are some issues that you would like to be improved in the services we provide to you, if you think about them and tell us your requests, it gives us happiness, gives us strength and enables us to move forward towards providing better quality service. Do not forget that, our precious elders, Istanbul is yours, our country is yours, with your existence, your past services, and what you have produced.”
“TO HAVE AN ISTANBUL WHERE YOUR SATISFACTION IS INCREASED IS THE DEBT OF WE MANAGERS”
Noting that he spent his childhood with family members of almost all ages, İmamoğlu concluded his speech with the following words:
“My elders taught me amazing things. And being together with my elders increased my respect towards the society most of all, it increased my respect towards the elders. While speaking, I give the following example: There is an absolute child in a house that listens to me. I would like to be an example for him. It is very valuable for me that my speeches are correct, ethical, qualified and productive. Of course, there is another side to this: I want my elders who are not disturbed by my speech, who say, 'Well done to this young man, well done to this manager', who listen to me and say this. You are all great. I hope I don't make you bow your head, I don't embarrass you. Heartfelt thanks to all of you. It is the duty of us managers to create an Istanbul where your satisfaction increases and to create a Turkey where your satisfaction grows. May God not embarrass us to you.”
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