Better that they are not alone<\/p>\n
The number of elderly retirees in Indonesia is growing rapidly as
\naverage life expectancy continues to improve, from 43 years in
\nthe 1960s to over 64 years today. That demographic reality plus
\nthe changing of the family definition from extended families to
\nonly nuclear ones have made it necessary for many senior citizens
\nto be put in nursing homes; sometimes their choice, sometimes
\nthat of their relatives. The Jakarta Post talked to some people
\nabout the idea of sending their parents to a nursing home.<\/p>\n
Taskia, 26, is an employee of a foreign firm on Jl. Thamrin,
\nCentral Jakarta. She resides with her family in Menteng, also in
\nCentral Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I plan to send my parents to stay at a nursing home, but only
\nwith their consent. If they refuse, I won't force them.<\/p>\n
There are lots of benefits if I send them to a nursing home.
\nFirst, they will live with people of their same age so that they
\ncan find friends to socialize with.<\/p>\n
Second, most of nursing homes provide round-the-clock health
\nservices. With the fact that old people are prone to falling and
\nsuffering other health problems, it is much safer for them to
\nlive with professionals who are ready to help them, rather than
\nalone at home.<\/p>\n
Ujang, 17, is a street vendor selling food in Palmerah,
\nCentral Jakarta. He lives nearby in a rented house with his
\nfriends. His parents live with his older sister in Garut, West
\nJava:<\/p>\n
I think it's best if we can take care of our own parents by
\nourselves, because we know them so well, and we know exactly what
\nthey need or want.<\/p>\n
Taking care of them is also a way to show our respect for them
\nand a way to pay them back as our parents, who have taken care of
\nus since we were born.<\/p>\n
I don't think sending our parents to a nursing home is bad ...
\nit's just not common in our culture. However, it's better if the
\nelderly are looked after by someone who really cares about them,
\nrather than being neglected because the children are too busy
\nwith going about their daily routines.<\/p>\n
-- The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/better-that-they-are-not-alone-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }