Better that they are not alone

The number of elderly retirees in Indonesia is growing rapidly as average life expectancy continues to improve, from 43 years in the 1960s to over 64 years today. That demographic reality plus the changing of the family definition from extended families to only nuclear ones have made it necessary for many senior citizens to be put in nursing homes; sometimes their choice, sometimes that of their relatives. The Jakarta Post talked to some people about the idea of sending their parents to a nursing home.

Taskia, 26, is an employee of a foreign firm on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta. She resides with her family in Menteng, also in Central Jakarta:

I plan to send my parents to stay at a nursing home, but only with their consent. If they refuse, I won't force them.

There are lots of benefits if I send them to a nursing home. First, they will live with people of their same age so that they can find friends to socialize with.

Second, most of nursing homes provide round-the-clock health services. With the fact that old people are prone to falling and suffering other health problems, it is much safer for them to live with professionals who are ready to help them, rather than alone at home.

Ujang, 17, is a street vendor selling food in Palmerah, Central Jakarta. He lives nearby in a rented house with his friends. His parents live with his older sister in Garut, West Java:

I think it's best if we can take care of our own parents by ourselves, because we know them so well, and we know exactly what they need or want.

Taking care of them is also a way to show our respect for them and a way to pay them back as our parents, who have taken care of us since we were born.

I don't think sending our parents to a nursing home is bad ... it's just not common in our culture. However, it's better if the elderly are looked after by someone who really cares about them, rather than being neglected because the children are too busy with going about their daily routines.

-- The Jakarta Post