Indonesia

A HelpAge volunteer helps Rusmini, 75, feel less alone. (c) HelpAge International We began working to support older people in Indonesia in 1996. We work at the national level, as well as in Jakarta, Bireuen and Aceh.

Our main areas of work are emergency support, healthcare and advocacy.

Life story: Rusmini, 75

"My husband passed away a long time ago. He used to work at a factory. I have two children, a son and a daughter who are 45 and 43. My son works at a factory nearby, my daughter works overseas.

"I live with my son, but he comes home very late in the evening. I am alone during the day. I am very happy that Suci (a HelpAge volunteer) visits me regularly and helps me with household chores and chats with me.

"She also escorts me to the health centre and to attend spiritual and social activities. She checks my blood pressure, gives me a massage and once a year I get new clothes.

"My eyesight is not good anymore and I have difficulty walking. I feel now that I have another daughter, as Suci is always there for me when I need her."

Supporting older people in Indonesia

In the last year, we have supported older people in several areas:

Advocacy

• The 2012 Age Demands Action campaign organised by our Affiliate Yayasan Emong Lansia saw 2,000 older people meet with Dr Makmur Sunusi, special adviser to the Minister of Social Affairs and focal point of member states of ASEAN. Dr Sunusi expressed full support for a UN convention on the rights of older people. 
• In April 2012, as part of the Age Demands Action on Health campaign, activists met the Minister for Health to highlight the need for better home and community care.

Healthcare

• Based on the model piloted by HelpAge Korea, HelpAge and Yayasan Emong Lansia, the government announced its plans to benefit up to 100,000 older Indonesians through regular in-home visits and basic healthcare for sick, fragile and lonely older people.

Emergency support

• With our partners, we provided relief supplies to older people in poor neighbourhoods of Jakarta affected by heavy flooding. This includes distributing blankets, tents and mosquito repellent, as well as cash grants so that older people can buy food and replace vital belongings.
• We have helped communities prepare for and increase their resilience to natural disasters by conducting training workshops.

What next?

• We will assist 30 older people’s associations to meet the needs of their community members including home repairs, food and care for people who are house bound, and basic health services in poor areas of Aceh Province and urban Jakarta.
• We will prepare local partners to assist older people to recover from the impact of Indonesia’s frequent natural disasters by providing essential supplies and support to rebuild livelihoods.
• We will work with the Indonesian government and non-government partners to highlight the need for stronger government protections for income security in old age.
  
• We will continue to identify suitable agencies to partner with in future emergencies and work to build the skills of these partners to respond in ways that are sensitive to the needs of older people.

Our Affiliates

Yayasan Emong Lansia

Our partners

Demographic Institute of the University of Indonesia, Humanitarian Forum Indonesia, Yayasan Telaga Amal, Ministry of Social Affairs, TNP2K

Our donors

Age UK, GRM International