An Older Woman Live Alone in a Decaying House, MoSA Provides House Repairment and Medicine

However, after a careful examination inside the house, it looks very poor.  The roof is weathered by the years. Many roof tiles are sliding and broken or cracked. When it rains, Mak Asih's house leaks uncontrollably. The ceiling made of woven bamboo has holes pierced by water, its white color mixed with brown. A few bamboo sticks are installed here and there, just hoping that they can withstand the possibility of the horses collapsing.

It feels so damp inside and it can increase the risk of health problems, the condition of the house is also life-threatening.

This old woman admitted that she had asked for help, but no one was helping her. But now this 72-year-old woman can finally show her smile with relief. At the direction of Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, a team from the Ministry of Social Affairs is ready to repair Mak Asih's house along with other assistance.

Following up on the Minister's direction, the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation for Elderly and Pangudi Luhur Integrated Center moved quickly to help Mak Asih.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs provides interventions in the form of house repairs, health care, and provides economic empowerment to Mak Asih to make her more prosperous," said Director of Elderly Social Rehabilitation Soepomo.

The form of protection for Mak Asih is not only food needs, but also other basic needs such as proper housing.

The Ministry of Social Affairs provided a proposal to repair Mak Asih's house through the Integrated Welfare House Program (RST). Through this program, Mak Asih's house can not only be repaired, but also provided with various other assistance such as ATENSI Assistance and economic empowerment for chicken farming.

ATENSI assistance provided to Mak Asih in the form of basic needs assistance, nutritional assistance, personal hygiene assistance, and room equipment to support Mak Asih's daily needs.

In order to have a better livelihood from an economic aspect, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides economic empowerment for livestock businesses to Mak Asih that will be managed with her son. The assistance provided was in the form of 22 chicken brooders along with livestock equipment such as chicken fodder and cage renovations.

Usually, Mak Asih's income is small and uncertain because she only depends on her rice fields which are cultivated by others.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also checked Mak Asih's health at a local hospital. From the examination, Mak Asih was preliminarily diagnosed as having a tendency to Geriatric syndrome and both of Mak Asih's eyes were also diagnosed with cataracts. Mak Asih was scheduled for cataract surgery to restore her vision.

Mak Asih's family was given reinforcement so that the family can give more attention so that Mak Asih can live happily in her old age.

"Hopefully, after Mak Asih receives assistances, her children will be more attentive to their mother, so she will live her old age happily,” said Soepomo.

Ministry of Social Affairs will always monitor her chicken farming and her family can be economically independent.