Foundations support old age homes

Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Lenawati, 65, is not often visited by her children, who live in Bekasi, at the Ciracas home for the aged in East Jakarta, which has been her home for the last three years.

"I want to live with them, but they ...," she said, her sentence left unfinished. "We have disagreements."

Many elderly people live under the same circumstances. Some feel neglected by their families and others chose to live in a home for the aged so as not to be a burden.

"Their biggest problem is loneliness," said Bing Roesdy of the Women's International Club (WIC).

Roesdy claims that the present generation cares very little about their seniors. "Many people think of them (the elderly) as useless, while we can learn so many things from them."

Currently, 46 elderly people in Tegal Alur, West Jakarta, get help from the HelpAge Indonesia foundation in a pilot project called home care program in which volunteers visit the elderly to help them overcome their loneliness.

For 37 years, WIC has given monthly support of goods and sends its volunteers to visit residents of Lenawati's old people's home as well as two others -- Margaguna in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, and Pusaka X in Cikini, Central Jakarta

WIC, comprising 60 percent Indonesians and 40 percent foreigners, organized a celebration of the International Day of Older Persons, which falls on Oct. 1, on Tuesday.

More than 180 elderly people attended the event and participated in contests as well as gave a angklung (bamboo instrument from West Java) performance. They also staged a play.

The elderly women giggled and pointed at friends dancing on the stage to Cucak Rowo song.

"I'm not so lonely because I've got them," said Lenawati, inclining her head in her friends' direction.