The elderly do not just need social assistance, but social care to improve their individual competence.
By: Victoria Fangidae (Deputy Director of The PRAKARSA)
A number of media in mid-January 2024 reported about the death of an elderly person who was alone. In the midst of the frenzy leading up to the election, this news was marginalized. In fact, this is a sign that the condition of our welfare is still poor and should be a warning sign for state administrators and the public.
The phenomenon of elderly people who are neglected, either because they choose to live alone or live alone because of circumstances, and then "die in silence"—to quote kompas.com—is only the tip of the iceberg of the various structural problems facing this nation. Two-thirds of Indonesia's population currently still consists of young and productive people, but since 2020 Indonesia's population has begun to age. Currently, almost 12 percent of Indonesia's population is elderly over 60 years. In the year of Golden Indonesia 2045, one fifth of Indonesia's population is elderly.
Poverty is still a scourge for most elderly people. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2023 shows that 10 percent of elderly people are below the poverty line, less than 15 percent work in the formal sector, and more than 60 percent have only completed or not completed elementary school. Currently, the majority of programs social assistance those targeting the elderly are still more concentrated on this very poor group, whose coverage is still very low.
Elderly people who experience decreased mobility, health and memory need more than just sporadic and minimal social assistance, but social care. Borrowing from Cantor (1989), the concept of social care (social care) is defined as formal care with informal support from family and friends.
Quality main care is to enable older adults to meet critical needs related to independent functioning, including socialization, personal development, assistance with daily tasks, and support during illness or crisis. The core idea of social care is rooted in the belief that assistance aims to increase individual competence and mastery of the environment, not foster dependency.
In fact, the government has included this concept deeply RPJMN 2020-2024. In the policy targets and directions, it is stated that the government will develop an integrated and holistic long-term care system.
There are several government programs that have adopted holistic social care principles, for example Atensi-LU (social rehabilitation assistance for the elderly) which addresses a comprehensive series of problems faced by the elderly population. Attention-LU aims to prepare the elderly for a prosperous, dignified and happy aging process, which is more than just medical assistance.
However, there are two things that influence whether elderly people receive social care, namely availability (availability) and accessibility (accessibility), including utilization (use). In many cases, seniors suffer due to several factors.
Research The Prakarsa (2023) regarding the condition of the elderly in several regions in Indonesia shows that those who experience social exclusion from the relationship system, both family and community, do not have access to assistance even though it is available. The core idea of social care is rooted in the belief that assistance aims to increase individual competence and mastery. environment.
NA's grandmother, for example, is one of the elderly research subjects who lives alone. Even though he lives in DKI Jakarta with a local government that has quite a lot of programs for the welfare of the elderly, he is still excluded from all of these programs.
He only depended on the mercy of his family and neighbors who occasionally brought him food or a little money. He is poor not only because he has no money, but also does not have close family who can care for him, and also does not have any information about how to access social assistance, let alone social Security.
So, how should care for the elderly be carried out in Indonesia?
Indonesia can learn from several developed countries that adhere to the principles of a welfare state. Japan, for example, combines cultural values and state commitment to provide community-based integrated care centers that provide holistic care for the elderly in their communities. This program keeps seniors in their homes and communities by integrating medical care, long-term care, and daily living support.
Another example is Sweden, through its home care program for the elderly. This program emphasizes home care services and supports so seniors can age in place comfortably. Seniors receive a personalized care plan, including home healthcare visits, assistance with daily activities, and social support.
Suggestion
Indonesia can do the following things. First, expanding the scope of social care programs, including establishing a more proactive reporting and data collection system.
Elderly people like Grandma NA need help, but to access that help, they need information. Who will register and enter their names as beneficiaries? Community facilitators can be activated to collect data and update data.
Second, develop service centers for the elderly at the community level. These service centers can be a mix of formal and informal social support. Being in the community makes it easier for elderly people to access services provided according to the various needs of elderly people, such as access to information, counseling and coordination of various support services. The existing elderly posyandu can be expanded in function.
Third, encourage creation social investment with the private sector being given the opportunity to be involved in social issues, such as providing home services/elderly care, especially for those who lack family support. To make these services more accessible, the government must ensure affordability and inclusiveness and consider subsidy assistance programs to access them.
Fourth, improving the quality of government or private and community-owned elderly homes by establishing standardization of facilities and infrastructure, quality of human resources, and compliance with guidelines and ethics can create a safe and supportive environment for elderly residents.
If we recall the excitement of the presidential and vice presidential election campaigns in outlining their vision and mission, we can see how the issue of old age received a marginal portion of the debate between the presidential and vice presidential candidates. The issue that appears more often and is considered sexy is the issue of children and young voters and how the state will pay attention to them.
Hopefully this is not an indication that the government will ignore the elderly in the future. Because the elderly who are not taken care of show low national morals, and make us stagger towards the Golden Indonesia 2045.
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This article was previously published on kompas.id by title "The Elderly and the Importance of Comprehensive Social Care Services”. Click to read: kompas.id
