Published in the Official Gazette: The Way Has Been Opened for Elderly and Disability Care Center Investments in Forest Areas
With Law No. 7587, which was published in the Official Gazette and entered into force on 1 July 2026, an important regulation directly concerning the elderly and disability care sector was introduced.
With this amendment, “care and rehabilitation centers for persons with disabilities and elderly individuals” have been added to the facilities for which permits may be granted under the third paragraph of Article 17 of Forestry Law No. 6831.
Although at first glance this may appear to be a technical regulatory amendment, it could in fact mark the beginning of a new era for elderly care and senior living investments.
What Has Changed in the Law?
Article 4 of Law No. 7587 added the following wording to the third paragraph of Article 17 of Forestry Law No. 6831:
“Care and rehabilitation centers for persons with disabilities and elderly individuals”
With this amendment, a legal basis has been established for planning facilities intended for the care and rehabilitation of elderly individuals and persons with disabilities in State forests, provided that the required permitting procedures are completed and the opinions and approvals of the relevant authorities are obtained.
The regulation is considered an important step toward addressing the long-standing issue of access to suitable land and investment areas in the elderly care sector.
Why Is This Important for the Elderly Care Sector?
As Türkiye’s elderly population continues to increase each year, the demand for care services is growing at a similar pace.
At the same time, one of the greatest challenges faced by investors is gaining access to investment land of an appropriate size and with the right characteristics.
Particularly for senior living campuses, integrated care centers, and large-scale senior living projects, factors such as:
Land costs,
Zoning restrictions,
Difficulties in finding suitable sites,
Initial investment costs,
are among the main challenges that make it difficult to implement such projects.
The new regulation has the potential to create new opportunities for investors in this respect.
Which Types of Projects Could Benefit from the New Regulation?
Although the term “nursing home” is not explicitly included in the wording of the law, the definition “care and rehabilitation centers for elderly individuals” has a relatively broad scope.
Therefore, in the coming period, different investment models such as:
Private nursing homes,
Elderly care centers,
Dementia and Alzheimer’s care centers,
Senior living campuses,
Healthy aging centers,
Care and rehabilitation villages,
are expected to gain greater attention.
The regulation offers particularly noteworthy opportunities for campus-style projects incorporating nature-integrated living environments, therapeutic gardens, walking routes, and social activity areas.
However, the Most Critical Issue Is Not the Land
One of the biggest mistakes made in the sector is evaluating an investment solely in terms of the building or land.
A successful elderly care investment requires the combined assessment of many factors, including:
Selecting the right location,
Realistic demand analysis,
Proper capacity planning,
Accessibility,
Staff recruitment potential,
Operating model,
Financial feasibility.
The underlying reason why many facilities in the sector fail to achieve the expected performance today is not the lack of an appropriate building, but rather poor location selection, incorrect capacity planning, and inadequate feasibility studies.
What Should Investors Do in This New Period?
This amendment to the Forestry Law may create significant opportunities for elderly care and senior living investments. However, in order to properly evaluate the new opportunities provided by the legislation, investment decisions should be supported by professional feasibility studies.
Entrepreneurs considering an investment should first analyze the project’s feasibility, regional demand, investment costs, operating model, and long-term sustainability.
In conclusion,
The amendment introduced by Law No. 7587 stands out as one of the most noteworthy regulatory changes in recent years in the field of elderly and disability care services. However, as with every new opportunity, the key to success is not simply finding the right land; it is determining the right location, the right capacity, and the right investment model.
If you are planning an investment in an elderly care center, nursing home, senior living campus, or care and rehabilitation facility, obtaining expert advice before making your investment decision is of great importance.
At İREL Consultancy, we provide investors with professional consultancy services throughout the entire process, from the initial investment concept and feasibility analysis to building suitability assessment, establishment, and operating model development.
You can contact us to evaluate your project together and identify the true potential of your investment.
Author: Mesut Yalçın – Social Work Specialist / Family Counselor / Founder – İrel Consultancy
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