More aid needed for the elderly: Volunteers

Volunteers assisting the HelpAge Indonesia foundation said on Monday that 46 senior citizens taking part in the home care program in Tegal Alur subdistrict, West Jakarta, needed financial aid more than just visitors since most of them lived in poverty.

"They (the elderly) are happy whenever I visit them. But I think they need more than just home care because most of them can't afford their daily needs," Maryati, a 57-year-old volunteer, said during a visit of a group of executives of HelpAge Korea and HelpAge Indonesia to the subdistrict.

Both foundations have been implementing the home care program for the 46 elderly people as a pilot project. Through the program, a volunteer is required to visit one of two elderly people at least once a week.

During the visit, the volunteers try to entertain the elderly citizens by asking them to talk about many things including discussing the problems faced by senior citizens.

HelpAge Indonesia has recruited 36 volunteers to conduct regular visits.

Maryati cited the poor conditions faced by Minan, 84, as an example. Minan lives alone in a very small house with poor sanitation while seawater often enters the house during high tide.

"Therefore, I hope there will be financial aid for elderly people like Minan so that he can repair his house. Without such assistance, it is unlikely that he can lead a healthy life," she told The Jakarta Post.

A similar demand came from another volunteer Zainuddin, 54, who said that when visiting the elderly people, he often advised them to eat nutritious food. However, he only got "no money" as a response.

"I hope the foundation can provide good food routinely for them," he added. -- JP