Foundations support old age homes<\/p>\n
Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Lenawati, 65, is not often visited by her children, who live in
\nBekasi, at the Ciracas home for the aged in East Jakarta, which
\nhas been her home for the last three years.<\/p>\n
\"I want to live with them, but they ...,\" she said, her
\nsentence left unfinished. \"We have disagreements.\"<\/p>\n
Many elderly people live under the same circumstances. Some
\nfeel neglected by their families and others chose to live in a
\nhome for the aged so as not to be a burden.<\/p>\n
\"Their biggest problem is loneliness,\" said Bing Roesdy of the
\nWomen's International Club (WIC).<\/p>\n
Roesdy claims that the present generation cares very little
\nabout their seniors. \"Many people think of them (the elderly) as
\nuseless, while we can learn so many things from them.\"<\/p>\n
Currently, 46 elderly people in Tegal Alur, West Jakarta, get
\nhelp from the HelpAge Indonesia foundation in a pilot project
\ncalled home care program in which volunteers visit the elderly to
\nhelp them overcome their loneliness.<\/p>\n
For 37 years, WIC has given monthly support of goods and sends
\nits volunteers to visit residents of Lenawati's old people's home
\nas well as two others -- Margaguna in Pondok Indah, South
\nJakarta, and Pusaka X in Cikini, Central Jakarta<\/p>\n
WIC, comprising 60 percent Indonesians and 40 percent
\nforeigners, organized a celebration of the International Day of
\nOlder Persons, which falls on Oct. 1, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
More than 180 elderly people attended the event and
\nparticipated in contests as well as gave a angklung (bamboo
\ninstrument from West Java) performance. They also staged a play.<\/p>\n
The elderly women giggled and pointed at friends dancing on
\nthe stage to Cucak Rowo song.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not so lonely because I've got them,\" said Lenawati,
\ninclining her head in her friends' direction.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foundations-support-old-age-homes-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}