Introduction

The increase in the elderly population and structural changes in families have made functional dependency of the elderly one of the major social and health challenges. This dependency not only affects the quality of life of the elderly, but also families who are responsible for caring for dependent elderly members face numerous issues and pressures.

Importance and Necessity

Given the growing trend of population aging and the increase in cases of functional dependency, a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of families can help policymakers and health planners in providing support services and designing effective interventions. So far, limited research has comprehensively examined the experiences of families with dependent elderly.

Objective

The objective of this study is to examine and explain the lived experiences of families in which one of their members is an elderly person with functional dependency in order to identify the different dimensions of the challenges, their coping strategies, and the outcomes of the presence of the elderly in the extended family.

Research Method

This study will be conducted with a qualitative approach using a phenomenological method. Data will be collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with family members of functionally dependent elderly people.