Provision of Decent Housing for the Elderly Remains a Challenge
Indonesia is entering an ageing population phase, with the proportion of elderly residents now exceeding 10% of the total national population. The growing number of senior citizens has heightened attention towards the need for safe, healthy, and decent housing as a means of supporting quality of life in old age.
The issue of decent housing remains a challenge, particularly for the elderly in rural areas. In several regions, there are still senior citizens living alone in houses with deteriorating structures, poor air circulation, and limited sanitation facilities. Similar conditions were found in Merapun Village, East Kalimantan. A number of elderly residents in the area still occupy homes that have declined in quality due to the age of the buildings and economic constraints.
The Ministry of Health considers a healthy home to be one of the important factors influencing public health status. Good air circulation can help reduce humidity and exposure to dust, smoke, and microorganisms. Meanwhile, adequate sanitation plays a role in reducing the risk of spreading environment-based diseases.
Based on these conditions, TAP Untuk Negeri, through PT Yudha Wahana Abadi (YWA), is once again running the Renovation and Sanitation Programme (Pondasi) in Merapun Village, East Kalimantan. This programme is directed at improving the quality of community housing, especially for the elderly, so they can live in a safer, healthier, more comfortable, and decent environment.
The Pondasi Programme not only targets the repair of house structures but also includes the improvement of sanitation facilities. Thus, housing is expected not merely to serve as shelter but to be capable of supporting the health and well-being of its occupants.
Merapun Village Head Lobrik John welcomed the implementation of the programme positively. According to him, the collaboration provides direct benefits to the community, especially elderly residents.
“We express our gratitude to TAP Untuk Negeri through PT YWA for their concern for the people of Merapun Village. This programme provides real benefits, particularly for elderly residents who can now live in more decent, safe, and healthy homes. We hope programmes like this can continue so that more people can feel the positive impact,” he said.
For the elderly, a home means more than just a place to live. A safe and healthy dwelling is an important space for spending old age with comfort, protection, and dignity.
Through the Pondasi Programme, community development is demonstrated not only through economic strengthening but also through the provision of a decent living environment. A healthy home can be the foundation for improving a family’s quality of life, including the growing elderly population in Indonesia. Amidst changing national demographics, collaboration between businesses and the community is expected to encourage more similar initiatives. After all, caring for the elderly is part of how a nation preserves dignity and honours those who have contributed to its development journey.