Determining elderly care home selection criteria and prioritizing strategies using Swara method

Yeter Uslu; Busra Sevim; Selenay Koc; Sefer Aygun; Kevser Sahin

doi:10.36096/brss.v7i1.755

Authors

Yeter Uslu Istanbul Medipol University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8529-6466
Busra Sevim Istanbul Medipol University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3542-8077
Selenay Koc İstanbul Medipol University https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7766-5309
Sefer Aygun Istanbul Medipol University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9999-3983
Kevser Sahin Istanbul Medipol University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2103-2672

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36096/brss.v7i1.755

Keywords:

Elderly Care Homes, SWARA, Multi-Criteria Decision Making, Selection Criteria, Priorization Strategies

Abstract

There has been an increase in the elderly population worldwide in recent years. This situation creates some needs both at individual and social level. In particular, elderly individuals need support in carrying out their daily activities. Therefore, elderly care centers are seen as an important supporter in this respect. This study aims to identify the criteria affecting the selection of elderly care centers and prioritize them with SWARA method. The SWARA method was used to weight the criteria affecting the selection of elderly care centers in order of priority. Eight criteria identified through literature review were evaluated by five experts experienced in the relevant field. The experts evaluated the criteria by ranking them according to their importance and the final prioritization was carried out by taking the geometric mean of the evaluations. According to the results of the analysis, the most important factor affecting the selection of an elderly care center was the Quality-of-Life Comfort and Service with a weight of 22%. This was followed by Financial Status with 20%, Health Services with 16%, and Professional Staff with 13%. Location and Transportation criterion was determined as the least important factor with a weight of 0.7%. The fact that life comfort and service quality have the highest weight indicates that elderly individuals expect a quality and comfortable living environment. The results obtained from the study show that policies for elderly care homes should be organized in a way that aims to increase the comfort of living, improve service quality, ensure economic accessibility and ensure the sustainability of health services.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alt?ndi?, E., & Üner, E. (2023). Ya?l? bak?m modellerinin kar??la?t?r?lmas?. Geriatrik Bilimler Dergisi, 6(1), 60–71. https://doi.org/10.47141/geriatrik.1099573 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47141/geriatrik.1099573

Altun, Z. (2021). Ya?l?lara yönelik sosyal politikalar ve sosyal hizmetler: Sivil toplum kurulu?lar? üzerinden bir de?erlendirme. Toplumsal Politika Dergisi, 2(1), 30–44.

Altunay, Z., & Özkul, M. (2022). Geçmi?in de?eri günün sosyal problemi: Ya?l?l?k ve modern toplumda ya?l? bak?m?. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Vizyoner Dergisi, 13(35), 1012–1036. https://doi.org/10.21076/vizyoner.1020968 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21076/vizyoner.1020968

Asadzadeh, M., Maher, A., Jafari, M., Mohammadzadeh, K. A., & Hosseini, S. M. (2022). A review study of the providing elderly care services in different countries. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 11(2), 458–465. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1277_21

Bahad?r, Z., Ay, F., & Ba??büyük, G. Ö. (2022). Türkiye’de huzurevlerinde ya?ayan ya?l?lar?n genel profili, ya?ama yönelik beklenti ve endi?elerinin de?erlendirilmesi. Ya?l? Sorunlar? Ara?t?rma Dergisi (YSAD) / Elderly Issues Research Journal (EIRJ), 15(2), 83–97. https://doi.org/10.46414/yasad.1131354

Cheng, T., Liu, C., Yang, H., Wang, N., & Liu, Y. (2022). From service capacity to spatial equity: Exploring a multi-stage decision-making approach for optimizing elderly-care facility distribution in the city centre of Tianjin, China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 85, 104076. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104076

Çal?k, A. (2022). Bulan?k AHP-Bulan?k ARAS yöntemlerine dayal? dayan?kl? tedarikçi seçimi. ?stanbul Geli?im Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 9(2), 275–296. https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.798775 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.798775

Çetin, S., & Kuzucu, H. (2019). SERVQUAL ölçe?i ile ya?l? bak?mevlerinde hizmet kalitesinin ölçümü. Selçuk Üniversitesi Mühendislik, Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi, 7(2), 509–523. https://doi.org/10.15317/Scitech.2019.215 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15317/Scitech.2019.215

Çilesiz, N., & Behdio?lu, S. (2023). Hizmet kalitesinin yap?sal e?itlik modellemesi ile de?erlendirilmesi: Huzurevi-huzurevi ya?l? bak?m ve rehabilitasyon merkezi örne?i. Dumlup?nar Üniversitesi ??BF Dergisi, (10), 82–95.

Demir, A., & ?nce, C. (2021). “Huzurevi Kö?esine At?lmak” ya da “Ölümün Bir Ad?m Öncesi”: Ya?l? bireylerin huzurevini tercih etme nedenleri ve huzurevine yönelik alg?lar?. International Social Sciences Studies Journal, 7(78), 769–778. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26449/sssj.3014

Demirba?, S. (2018). Ya?l?l?kta sosyal ili?kiler. A. Canatan & E. Özmete (Eds.), Temel Gerontoloji (pp. 215–230). Ankara: Hedef CS Bas?m Yay?n.

Dündar, Ö., & Alptekin, V. (2022). Türkiye’de ya?l? nüfusun huzurevi tercihinin mekânsal ba??ml?l???. Journal of Economy Culture and Society, 65, 267–287.

Freedman, A., & Nicolle, J. (2020). Social isolation and loneliness: The new geriatric giants: Approach for primary care. Canadian Family Physician Medecin de Famille Canadien, 66(3), 176–182.

Gandhi, A., Yu, H., & Grabowski, D. C. (2021). High nursing staff turnover in nursing homes offers important quality information: Study examines high turnover of nursing staff at US nursing homes. Health Affairs, 40(3), 384–391. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00957

Ghasemyani, S., Jafari, M., Ahmadi Teymourlouy, A., & Fadayevatan, R. (2021). Components of elderly long-term care system in Iran and selected countries: A comparative study. Health Scope, 10(3), e109140. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/jhealthscope.109140

Güdük, Ö. (2022). Uzun dönemli bak?mda tercihler ve belirleyiciler: Formal bak?ma kar?? informal bak?m. Hacettepe Sa?l?k ?daresi Dergisi, 25(3), 681–694.

Gül, M. (2022). Uzun dönemli bak?m yönetimi. Türkiye Sosyal Hizmet Ara?t?rmalar? Dergisi, 6(2), 143–159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55109/tushad.1079109

Hosseini, M. M., Beheshti, S., Heydari, J., Zangiabadi, M., & Zargoush, M. (2024). Elderly care facility location in the face of the climate crisis: A case study in Canada. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 108, 104516. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104516

Kaplan, M., & Kaya, A. (2020). Mekânsal davran?? yakla??m? ile huzurevlerinin mekânsal örgütlenmesinin irdelenmesi: Bolu ve Düzce örnekleri. Düzce Üniversitesi, Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi, 8(2), 1337–1357. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.616331

Karalinç, T., & Ar?kan, B. A. (2024). Kurumsal itibar ve hizmet kalitesinin i?letme performans?na etkileri: Sa?l?k i?letmelerinde bir ara?t?rma. Akademik Hassasiyetler, 11(25), 632–662. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58884/akademik-hassasiyetler.1461177

Keršulien?, V., Zavadskas, E. K., & Turskis, Z. (2010). Selection of rational dispute resolution method by applying new step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA). Journal of Business Economics and Management, 11(2), 243–258. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2010.12

Koçak, S., & Özocak, M. T. (2021). Kullan?mlar ve doyumlar kuram? kapsam?nda mü?teri tercihleriyle itibar unsurlar?n?n etkile?imi. Uluslararas? Kültürel ve Sosyal Ara?t?rmalar Dergisi, 7(2), 59–81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46442/intjcss.996349

Korkmaz, S., & Çuhadar, U. (2017). Sa?l?k hizmet kalitesi ve sa?l?k kurumunu tekrar tercih etme niyeti aras?ndaki ili?ki: E?itim ve ara?t?rma hastanesi örne?i. Uluslararas? Sa?l?k Yönetimi ve Stratejileri Ara?t?rma Dergisi, 3(1), 72–87.

Lei, X., & Zhang, C. (2025). Home or Institution: A Comparative Analysis of Elderly Care Efficacy in China. Journal of Asian Economics, 101894. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2025.101894

Li, M., Ao, Y., Peng, P., Bahmani, H., Han, L., Zhou, Z., & Li, Q. (2023). Resource allocation of rural institutional elderly care in China’s new era: Spatial-temporal differences and adaptation development. Public Health, 223, 7–14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.07.005

Nazl?er Keser, E. N. (2020). Ya?l? bak?m uygulamalar?ndaki etik sorunlar üzerine bir de?erlendirme. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 31(1), 303–333. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33417/tsh.681896

Schmitz, H., & Stroka, M. A. (2014). Do elderly choose nursing homes by quality, price or location? Ruhr Economic Paper No. 495. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2473952

Sharkiya, S. H. (2023). Quality communication can improve patient-centred health outcomes among older patients: A rapid review. BMC Health Services Research, 23, 886. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09869-8

Shen, K. (2024). Who benefits from public financing of home-based long-term care? Evidence from Medicaid. Journal of Public Economics, 236, 105151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105151

Steensma, R., van den Bogerd, N., Dijkstra, K., Janssen-Heijnen, M., Krabbendam, L., de Vries, R., & Maas, J. (2025). How to implement nature-based interventions in hospitals, long-term care facilities for elderly, and rehabilitation centers: A scoping review. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 103, 128587. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128587

Swearinger, H. (2023). Amerika Birle?ik Devletleri’nde ya?l?l?kta uzun süreli bak?m: Sosyal adalet, sosyal refah ve hizmet modelleri. Sosyal Politika Çal??malar? Dergisi, 23(61), 693–729. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21560/spcd.vi.1150176

?ahin, K. (2021). Sa?l?k turistlerinin hastane seçimi: AHP ve TOPSIS yöntemleri ile bir uygulama. (Unpublished master's thesis). ?stanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Sa?l?k Bilimleri Enstitüsü, ?stanbul.

?ahinli, S., & Tar?m, M. (2019). Ya?l? sa?l?k hizmetleri: Türkiye Norveç kar??la?t?rmal? analizi. Sosyal Ara?t?rmalar ve Yönetim Dergisi, 1, 13–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35375/sayod.532383

Ta?, L., Cebecio?lu, G., & Korkmaz, A. H. (2023). Sakinlerin gözünden huzurevi ya?am?n? anlamak. Selçuk Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 49, 211–234. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21497/sefad.1313306

Tomasovi? Mr?ela, N., Borovac, J. A., Vrdoljak, D., Grazio, S., Tikvica Lueti?, A., & Tomek-Roksandi?, S. (2015). When elders choose: Which factors could influence the decision-making among elderly in the selection of health tourism services? Medical Hypotheses, 85(6), 898–904. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2015.09.013

TÜ?K. (2021–2023). Hayat tablolar?. Retrieved from https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Hayat-Tablolari-2021-2023-53678 Accessed November 5, 2024.

TÜ?K. (2023). ?statistiklerle ya?l?lar. Retrieved from https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Istatistiklerle-Yaslilar-2023-53710 Accessed November 5, 2024.

Uslu, Y., Artan, T., Aygün, S., Özkan, A. O., & O?uz, T. N. (2024). A study on location selection for private disabled care center using AHP and TOPSIS methods: The case of ?stanbul province. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 33(1), 203–221. https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1306963 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1306963

Uslu, Y., ?ahin, K., Aygün, S., & Tuna, M. (2023). OECD ülkeleri ve Türkiye’nin sa?l?k harcamalar?n?n TOPSIS yöntemi ile incelenmesi. Gümü?hane Üniversitesi Sa?l?k Bilimleri Dergisi, 12(2), 386–395. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37989/gumussagbil.1183077

Vatan, S., & Gençöz, T. (2004). Huzurevinde ya?ayan sakinlerin kuruma yönelik dü?ünce ve beklentileri: Niteliksel bir çal??ma. Kriz Dergisi, 12(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1501/Kriz_0000000208

WHO. (2024). Life expectancy at birth (years). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years) Accessed November 5, 2024.

Wu, H. W., Kumar, P., & Cao, S. J. (2022). Implementation of green infrastructure for improving the building environment of elderly care centres. Journal of Building Engineering, 54, 104682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104682. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104682

Xing, W., Fu, R., Wang, D., & Chang, H. (2016). Investigation on nursing service satisfaction of the elderly living in nursing home and influencing factors: Taking Zhengzhou City as an example. SHS Web of Conferences, 24, 01009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20162401009