Iis Manages Cengkareng Self-Reliant Nursing Home: 'I Will Also Grow Old Like Them'

JAKARTA - Panti Jompo Pusaka 41 Yayasan Al Madiniyah in Cengkareng Timur, West Jakarta, has operated for 33 years. The self-reliant facility currently houses 40 elderly residents. Iis Ismawati, manager and head of the nursing home, said most residents are women. “There are 30 grandmothers and 10 grandfathers here, aged between 60 and 97,” she said on Friday 29 May 2026. Some are in good health, others suffer from dementia or require bed rest.

Established in 1993, the home was initiated by Iis’s late parents, who were concerned about neglected seniors in Cengkareng. They began by renting a building and handling necessary paperwork, while Iis, fresh from university, drafted funding proposals. “We submitted proposals to various institutions, leading to its establishment in 1993. We also collaborate with the Social Affairs Office,” Iis explained.

Most residents are entrusted by their families due to economic or familial issues. Currently, Iis is supported by 20 staff: 10 nurses and 10 social workers. “It’s a self-reliant concept; local volunteers serve as social workers,” she added.