Elderly short of secure retirement
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Many people look forward to their retirement as a time when, after years of careful management, they can do the things they always wanted to, but could never quite afford.
Eva A.J. Sabdono, a well-organized 60-year-old woman, ran her own catering business until nine years ago. Together with her husband, Eva had developed an attitude toward money that would ensure the couple were financially secure in retirement.
"Thank God, I am luckier than most people my age. I am not dependent on others -- yet, I realize that many older people face frustration at the problems that come with age," she told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
The director of HelpAge Indonesia -- a foundation which aims to empower the elderly -- Eva is busy most days with social activities.
However, she says, not many older people in Indonesia have the resources -- financial or otherwise -- to set up savings or insurance schemes.
Of around 17 million senior citizens nationwide, only some four million are financially secure, said the chairman of the Advisory Council for Pension Funds, Kadarisman. Ministry of Health data says there are around 19 million senior citizens in the country.
Kadarisman -- who is also a member of the Indonesian Elderly Institute (LLI) -- said that those who are financially secure in retirement usually receive a pension, after working for state- owned or privately owned enterprises, or for the state as a civil servant or under the military.
"The remaining 13 million senior citizens are financially reliant upon others. While others suffer neglect, as they have nobody to take care of them," he said.
He called on the country's leaders to establish a social security scheme for senior citizens, as specified in the Constitution.
Kadarisman urged legislators to comprehensively discuss the issue at the ongoing deliberation of the National Social Insurance System (SJSN) bill.
He urged the revitalization of state insurance company PT Jamsostek so that the elderly would be covered. "The premium for insurance, for those who cannot afford it, must be taken from the state budget."
Eva shared Kadarisman's view, saying all people needed to examine their own lives, so that they could prepare themselves for old age, as the state did not have the resources to take care of them.
"It is unfortunate that most people don't think about making preparations for their later years, while they are still working," she said.
She mentioned the HelpAge Indonesia pilot project in Tegal Alur, West Jakarta, as an example. The project is now helping around 400 older people, who are unable to pay their hospital fees.
"Worse still, many of them do not hold Jakarta ID cards that can be used to obtain health cards," she said, referring to a facility provided by the Jakarta Health Agency for free health services.