Number of elderly people increasing

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Society's focus on youth coupled with a lack of welfare schemes for the elderly will mean that rising numbers of senior citizens in the country will be neglected in the future if action is not taken now, advocacy groups say.

This year's data from the Central Statistics Bureau (BPS) shows there are around 16 million over-60s in the country, or about 8 percent of the country's estimated 210 million population.

As the average life expectancy has increased to 68 years old for men and women, the number of senior citizens is projected to have risen by about 11.3 percent to some 28.8 million by 2020.

Of around 16 million senior citizens nationwide at present (other data puts their number higher at 19 million), only some four million receive pensions, with the remaining financially reliant upon others.

"Some 12 million senior citizens are poor and neglected," Emong Lansia Foundation for the Elderly chairwoman and HelpAge Indonesia director Eva Sabdono said on the sidelines of a national workshop on senior citizens health care on Tuesday.

Senior citizens in the country were also more likely to have health problems, a reduced role in the society, feelings of abandonment and were often unable to pay for public services, she said.

Eva said the government had created policies and regulations to improve the welfare of senior citizens and their access to public services. The most recent was Presidential Instruction No. 52/2004 on the establishment of the National Commission on Senior Citizens last year.

"But what about their implementation? We are yet to hear about the (government's) long-term program," Eva said.

Senior citizens in the country urgently needed health insurance schemes, she said, as many could not afford expensive medical treatment.

"We're urging the government to provide free medical treatment for senior citizens, at least for the 80-plus age group first."

Speaking at the workshop, Minister of Social Services Bachtiar Chamsyah said as an initial step, the government would provide free medical treatment for senior citizens who had fought for independence.

The promise came after Bachtiar visited former soldier S.K. Trimurti who has been hospitalized in the past week due to an illness, which she said had cost her Rp 20 million (US$2,000).

The government has allocated Rp 800,000 in monthly pensions for each of about 400 former soldiers.

As the number of elderly people rises, statistics show the burden of caring for them will increase on those of working age.

Data in 2001 from the National Population Agency (Baknas) revealed that every 100 Indonesians in the productive age group of 15 to 60 years are taking care of an average of 59 others. As a comparison, the ratio in the United States is 100 to 33.

Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Alwi Shihab, meanwhile, urged people to hold on to Asian values that respect and honor the elderly.

"The government must develop a long-term program, like a social security scheme. But civil society must also help spread values -- to respect and care for the elderly. There should be no need to establish more nursing homes," he said.