BOYOLALI (March 12, 2021) - The Family Hope Program (PKH) has a positive impact on Family Beneficiaries (KPM), especially the elderly category, in reducing the risk of senile dementia through the PKH Elderly Garden. This can be seen in the elderly KPM in Gondangrawe Village, Andong District, Boyolali Regency.

One of the elderly KPMs from Andong Subdistrict, Boyolali Regency, Bejo (79), said he was happy to participate in the activities at the Elderly Gardens because these activities can keep his mind fresh.

"Yes, I'm happy, inviting people to be healthy by working in the garden, fresh minds, continuing to reduce senile diseases," said Bejo in Boyolali.

The existence of the Elderly PKH Garden, for him, is also a medium for interaction with fellow KPMs his age.

Starting at the end of 2019, the garden measuring 11 x 13 meters2 was planted with various types of plants, such as chili, kale, eggplant, ginger and sand ginger.

According to Bejo, the PKH Elderly Garden can simultaneously increase his income and reduce his monthly expenses with his wife.

"The results can be consumed for own consumption, can be sold to the market or purchased by KPM also to increase income," he said.

Meanwhile, the Boyolali Regency PKH Companion, Danik Haryanti Ningrum Sapitri, conveyed that the empowerment of the elderly KPM she assisted was through gardening that she pioneered.

Danik said it started with the Family Quality Improvement Meeting (P2K2) which she regularly conducts with KPM.

In P2K2, she often provides direction and motivation, especially through modules on health and financial management, how to manage the social assistance (bansos) received by PKH so that it doesn't run out.

"Initially, I thought about encouraging the elderly KPM to be active, empowered. How about we make a PKH garden that is processed by the elderly. So, they are active and manage finances," she said, telling the idea of ​​the emergence of the PKH Elderly Garden.

Departing from the idea that was approved by the KPM, then they agreed to pay contributions as initial capital. "So, the elderly set aside a little (money) from the PKH social assistance, set aside IDR 10,000 per person," he explained.

The collected capital, he continued, was then used to purchase a number of plant seeds, foliar fertilizers and fruit fertilizers.

According to Danik, the results from the gardens that are cultivated by 20 elderly KPMs in rotation, the benefits are felt by the KPMs themselves.

"When it comes to harvesting, the results are sold to the market, some are bought by other KPM. The money goes into cash (finance), later it is used for capital again. Anyway, the results are what they feel," explained Danik.

During the current pandemic and rainy season, said Danik, the garden is managed on a scheduled basis. "Only once or twice a week, with a composition of only three to four people," said the woman from Sragen with the assisted area in Boyolali Regency.

Her hope is simple, through the PKH Elderly Gardens, she wants to send KPM with an age range that is no longer young to be empowered.

"My hope as a companion, I want to send them to be empowered, to be able to take advantage of the PKH social assistance for their future savings," she concluded.