Social Support for the Elderly in Decline

KOMPAS/IQBAL BASYARI

Mastinah, 65, (far right) and Darsono, 75, (center) in Gubeng, Surabaya, East Java, receive food from an unidentified worker of the Surabaya administration’s free food program on Thursday (23/3/2018). Surabaya has provided free food for the elderly, disabled and orphans since 2012.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Social support for the elderly is declining as their number continues to increase. Currently, about 40 percent of the older people live without a partner, and one in 10 live alone.

The decline in social support makes the elderly more vulnerable to health risks and illnesses, which may lead to death.

Social support is important, as older people generally experience a decline in physical functions. In addition to getting sick easily, older people are also at risk of mental changes. At the same time, due to the higher mobility of people today, children tend to leave their parents earlier.

Elderly living with their children, on the other hand, also face problems. They often feel marginalized by the new values adopted by the younger generation. Different views on music, dress or relationships between men and women can be a source of stress for the elderly.

KOMPAS/ANDREAS MARYOTO

Housewives prepare meals provided by the Foodbank of Indonesia, Feb. 8, 2018. The meals will be distributed to the elderly and children in need.

"The government needs to anticipate these matters with the right policy. Just responding is not enough," said Sukamdi, a researcher of the Center for Population and Policy Studies and lecturer of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta on Friday.

Due to distance, many children hire other people to take care of their parents. However, because not all children have adequate financial capability, many older people are neglected and poor.

Today, the number of elderly people in Indonesia is about 25 million, or 9.3 percent of the total population. That is higher than the number of children below five years of age. The Indonesian population structure is aging; by 2020, older people will make up about 10 percent of the population. By 2035, after a demographic bonus, the number of elderly in the country is expected to rise to 48 million.

Social support for the elderly comes from a spouse or family. In fact, four of 10 elderly live without a partner. Elderly women are three times more likely to be living without a partner than elderly men, because women generally have a higher life expectancy and tend not to marry again.

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

An elderly couple is housed at the Inkanas Building in Baleendah, Bandung Regency, West Java, on Tuesday (27/2/2018).

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Kinship system

Meanwhile, many of the elderly and many not-yet elderly say they would prefer to stay with children and grandchildren in their old days. Now, about 60 percent of the elderly live with their extended families. However, slowly but surely, the kinship relations are declining.

Although that decline will continue, the chairman of the Association of Indonesian Demographers, Sudibyo Alimoeso, said the kinship system for taking care of the elderly should be maintained. "Developed countries are trying to maintain that culture," he said.

Taking care of the elderly is increasingly challenging, given the decline in people’s attention. In rural areas, awareness for taking care of the elderly is still prevalent. However, in urban areas, the situation is more difficult. Half of the population lives in cities at present, and by 2035, city dwellers are expected to account for two-thirds of Indonesia\'s population.

A decline in social support is already taking place. The growing number of reports of elderly people going missing, being abandoned or dying unnoticed indicates how vulnerable the elderly are.

ANTARA FOTO/HENDRA NURDIYANSYAH

An elderly resident is evacuated to Glagaharjo Village Hall in Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Friday (1/6/2018).

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"Therefore, people should prepare themselves for getting old early on, since in the womb, to try and become healthy, independent and productive elderly," said Sudibyo.

In addition, the government, especially local governments, need to prepare an elderly-friendly infrastructure. The elderly already account for more than 10 percent of the population in Yogyakarta, Central Java, East Java, Bali and North Sulawesi.

A number of developed countries, such as Finland, have built many elderly centers to cope with the aging population. In the centers, the elderly can gather on certain days to exercise, make handicraft or just hang out with their peers.

Sukamdi said such a model could be applied according to the local culture in Indonesia. Old people in Indonesia generally become more religious.

This can be facilitated by establishing Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) for the elderly, which are integrated with a general pesantren. "However, realizing a model in which the elderly live in their own homes and do activities outside is difficult, unless supported by transportation facilities, sidewalks and elderly-friendly public toilets," he said.

(MZW)