Groups of elderly Norwegians who are in need of nursing care and health services will be sent to the southern province of Antalya for four months to receive care as part of an agreement signed between Turkish and Norwegian officials.
The decision was announced in a press conference held jointly by the Scandinavian Life Center and Özaltın Holding, a Turkish company operating in the fields of health and tourism. Officials from various branches of Özaltın Holding were in attendance, including representatives of Gloria Hotels & Resorts. After the press conference, managers of the Scandinavian Life Center, headed by Tom Stemre, signed an agreement with Nuri Özaltın, the CEO of Özaltın Holding.
Stemre said Antalya is a very good vacation spot for Norwegians because it meets their desire for quality. “We found more than we were looking for at Gloria Hotels and at the Aspendos Hospital in Belek [a district of Antalya]. Workers at these institutions also matter to us. I hope this agreement will be beneficial to both countries,” he added.
The Turkish representative of the Scandinavian Life Center, Oya Demirel, on the other hand, emphasized that elderly Norwegians will have a chance to be well taken care of in Turkey, stating: “The Norwegian government signed similar agreements with the Spanish, Italian and Greek governments. Now they want to sign another agreement with Turkey. With this agreement, 25,000 Norwegian elders who are cared for by the Norwegian government will experience a high standard of living. The target of the project is to provide all kinds of care, treatment, rehabilitation and a high standard of living to elderly Norwegians with health problems in Mediterranean countries.”
Demirel further explained that a group of 200 Norwegians will come to Belek in January 2009 and stay for four months. A second group of 1,200 people will live in Turkey between Sept. 15, 2009, and May 31, 2010. The third group of 2,500 to 3,000 will arrive in a later date, and if Norwegians are pleased with the services provided in Turkey, the number of elderly Norwegians relocated to Turkey may reach 25,000 in total.
Demirel also described Norwegian villages which will be permanently established if the elderly are pleased with their treatment in Turkey. The villages will each host 2,500 Norwegians and will have their own banks, hospitals and even universities, Demirel said.
Özaltın said while Özaltın Holding has come up with many innovations, such an agreement will be a first for them.
The chairman of Gloria Hotels & Resorts, Özgür Çinkılıç, also noted that they will provide all kinds of health and entertainment services for their Norwegian guests. “They will be provided courses on golf, aerobics, dance and Turkish cuisine. They will also be given the chance to learn Turkish handicrafts,” he added.
Health care for the elderly Norwegian guests will be provided by the Aspendos Hospital. Highlighting the affordability of health care services in Turkey compared to other European countries, co-president of the hospital, Dr. Ferhat Kayan, said: “Health care in Turkey attracts Europeans because the services are economical and high in quality and the climate of Turkey is favorable. Elderly Norwegians want to improve their quality of life by coming to Antalya, especially during the winter.”
