Celebrate 25th National Elderly Day (HLUN), Minister of Social Affairs: Happy Elderly with Family

The 2021 HLUN commemoration is still in a different nuance, because Indonesia is still struggling against the Covid-19 Pandemic which has shaken all sectors, both from the economic and health side, one of the groups affected is the elderly.

"I realize that there are still many elderly who are not fortunate to celebrate happiness with the existence of this Day today. However, with the commemoration of this old age, at least we remind you that everything parents do for their children can be ascertained as the best choice, "explained Risma.

Risma said that there are quite a lot of elderly who are successful, healthy, and enjoy happiness with their families, but not a few who experience a tough life in their old age because they live in deprivation, are neglected, and live alone.

The Ministry of Social Affairs is here to provide support, services, and programs to make the elderly happy in old age. The Ministry of Social Affairs presents the Social Rehabilitation Assistance Program (ATENSI) for the elderly and all vulnerable groups such as children, persons with disabilities, persons with social deviance issues, and trafficking victims and victims of drug abuse in Indonesia. The ATENSI program can be accessed through the Centers of the Ministry of Social Affairs throughout Indonesia.

The ATENSI program is implemented through 7 service components including support for the fulfillment of a decent life, social care, family support, therapy (physical, psychosocial, and mental-spiritual healing), vocational training and entrepreneurship development, and social assistance, as well as Accessibility support. The ATENSI program can also be family, community, or residential based.

"We are also working to make the elderly in Indonesia and abroad feel happy. We had the idea to create a posyandu for the elderly, where they can tell stories, exercise together, and do other productive activities so that they can pay attention to each other," said Risma.

The Ministry of Social Affairs’ efforts to make the elderly happiness is realized through the development of the Creative Attention Center (SKA) as a forum for empowerment for the elderly and other vulnerable groups to create, work so that they can live independently, provide modern and quality Accessibility Tools to help the elderly in their activities and continue to work.

Other efforts include providing support for civil registration services to obtain a National Identification Number (NIK) at the Ministry of Social Affairs offices so that civil rights can be fulfilled and they can access various government services and programs, improve Integrated Social Welfare Data including elderly data, and provide outreach services to the elderly in emergencies such as victims of disaster, neglect, violence, and various cases that threaten the lives of the elderly.

Risma said that problems related to the elderly in the past, present, and future are very complex and varied, so that it requires special strategies and methods to be resolved jointly by all elements, including government, society, and social institutions.

"Thank you for the elderly in Indonesia and in the world who are currently present, we have to thank the elderly, we are here, we can achieve and can carry out the trust that the people have given us all," concluded Risma.

At this event, the Ministry of Social Affairs also gave awards to outstanding seniors, namely Saridjah Niung (Mrs. Soed) who was the composer of struggle songs and children songs whose her whole life was spent paying attention to Indonesian children and still exist in working to enrich the nation's culture.

Another outstanding elderly, Aminah Candrakasih, is known to have starred in hundreds of films and soap operas and her old age still contribute to giving input to the world of cinema. Awards were also given to Sri Rosyati and Sri Irianingsih, twin elderly founders of the free school Darurat Kartini for street children and children from underprivileged families. Now at an advanced age, they remain consistent in carrying out humanitarian activities.

An award for seniors who excel in sports, namely Ellyas Pical, the first professional boxer from Indonesia to have won an international title abroad. Now entering old age, he still exists in boxing and is an inspiration to the younger generation because of his achievements.

Not only that, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provided Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) to Family Compensation Centers (Pusaka) are located in 3 regions. A total of 21 Pusaka in DKI Jakarta was given assistance worth Rp. 126.440 million, 7 Pusaka in Banten were given assistance worth Rp. 138.6 million and 2 Pusaka in West Java Rp. 18.79 million.