HLUN Commemoration: Welcoming Independent, Healthy, and Prosperous Elderly
Translator :
Karlina Irsalyana
BEKASI (May 29, 2022) - National Elderly Day (HLUN) is celebrated every May
29 as a form of appreciation for the elderly in Indonesia. This year, HLUN has
the theme “Healthy Elderly, Strong Indonesia” which is intended as an effort to
encourage the accessibility of the elderly who are independent, prosperous, and
dignified.
Referring to the guidelines for organizing the 26th
HLUN commemoration of 2022, which was launched by the Ministry of Social
Affairs, one of which was the call for community participation to be involved.
So entering the 26th anniversary of HLUN on May 29, Ragam Institute together
with the Coalition for Communities Caring for the Elderly (KuMPUL), held a commemoration
of the National Elderly Day. Precisely on Sunday, May 29, 2022. The volume book
“Lansia in the 21st Century” was also launched at this event which is a
collection of writers and practitioners interpreting the existence of the
elderly.
The presence of this book is very important,
especially for young people who feel left out in sustainability issues. The
themes in this volume are mostly derived from the results of discussions,
research, and recent studies on the elderly. Through an in-depth study, it is
hoped that this book can also be a reference for policymakers to pay more
attention to the elderly through programs that empower the elderly in
Indonesia.
Especially for institutions and ministries that
carry out various efforts to facilitate the lives of the elderly. Especially in
improving the welfare of the elderly and social protection for the elderly in
Indonesia. It is intended that efforts can be made to fulfill the rights of the
elderly to be able to live an equal, prosperous and dignified life, to
realize the dream of prosperity in old age.
In addition to the book launch, there was also a
talk show with the theme "Welcoming Independent, Healthy, and Prosperous
Elderly". In general, this talk show is intended for young people. But
even so, the participants who attended came from various backgrounds, from
Generation Z, members of elderly organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs), university students, and the general public, to policy makers.
This talk show presented some speakers
representing various groups, including Sri Ayu Rahayu as Representative of the
Elderly, Dena Rachman who works as an artist representing the Millennial
Generation, Muhammad Rafli representing Generation Z, Adi Santika, a speaker who
was present offline, several book authors and expert practitioners. This
talkshow was moderated by Yossa Nainggolan, who is the Coordinator of the
Elderly Anthology in the 21st Century.
Apart from speakers and moderators, several figures were also present to
give remarks on this talk show, such as Nurtami (Vice Chancellor for Research
and Innovation at the University of Indonesia), Sandrayati Moniaga (Komnas
HAM), and Maliki (Director for Poverty Reduction and Community Empowerment of Bappenas).
The event was also enlivened by a Stand-Up Comedy performance by Muhammad
Rafli, a student of Criminology at FISIP UI, an Elderly Women's Choir, and a
demonstration of dementia prevention exercise from an elderly group around
Depok City.
Maliki, a speaker from Bappenas said that the
world's population in 2050 is estimated to exceed nine billion people, where
the population aged 60 years and over will increase three times the total
population. The United Nations estimates that the number of elderly will reach
74 million by 2020 (25 percent of the world's population). Indonesia's
population structure itself in 2025 is projected to experience a demographic bonus
and enter the beginning of an aging population.
Referring to these conditions, the government is
expected to be able to carry out efforts to fulfill the rights and social
protection of the elderly and ensure that the elderly live in prosperity and
dignity through various programs developed by related institutions and
ministries.
Furthermore, Adi Santika, continued that the
condition of the elderly in Indonesia who are not yet independent makes us need
to prepare well for the period of the elderly population explosion. The data
refers to data quoted from BPS in 2019, showing that most of the elderly live
in families of three generations or with children and grandchildren (40.64%),
children/families (27.30%), and spouses (20.03%), and live alone (9.38%). Data from
TNP2K, Elderly Population and Affordability of Social Protection Programs for
the Elderly 2017, shows that around 45% of the elderly are in households with
the lowest 0% socioeconomic status, 67% of whom live in very poor and neglected
conditions.
Another challenge is that socially the existence
of the elderly still does not get appreciation and respect from the community.
Citing BPS data, in 2014, where the WHO analysis in 57 countries stated that
60% of the total 83 thousand respondents stated that the elderly got lack respect
from society. This was indirectly confirmed by the two millennial generations
who were present as speakers at the event. Dena Rachman, a young artist who
currently works as a designer, said that at first, she did not understand HLUN, but gave appreciation and respect to her grandmother, even
though almost all other family members at home could not understand why her
grandmother always cooked a lot of food at home while all family members have
activities outside the home. So this often triggers misunderstandings
internally. With her presence at the HLUN commemoration and reading references
from MOSA's website, Dena further expressed her willingness to be able to
contribute further to the elderly program as an appreciation for young people
in the elderly.
The activity to welcome the HLUN which
has been massively echoed by the MoSA is held in a hybrid, online and offline
manner. The offline event was held at the Ruang Apung, University of Indonesia,
Depok. Meanwhile, online events are held through the Zoom Application and
broadcast live via Youtube, followed by people from various backgrounds such as
Social Workers, Social Counselors, Religious Counselors, and various other
professions related to elderly problems. In addition to Variety Institute and
KuMPUL as the main organizers, this activity is also supported by several
institutions, including Komnas HAM, Center for Aging (CAS) UI, LBH APIK, and sponsored
by Kalbe Farma and Susu Anlene.
Through the Book of Anthology for the Elderly in
the 21st Century and a series of activities that have been carried out, it is
hoped that all of us can increase our concern for the elderly, and together
move to create a more independent, healthy, and prosperous elderly. Healthy
elderly, strong Indonesia.
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