PWRI Encourages the Elderly to Remain Empowered through Social Roles in Communities

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PWRI Executive Andreas Anugerah is encouraging the elderly to remain empowered and productive through social roles in communities. “We (PWRI) want to operate through communities. Therefore, we actually want something like the study groups in Muslim communities, as they already have their own groups. In addition, in churches or other worship groups,” Andreas said during the PWRI Easter Celebration 2026 in Jakarta on Saturday. He also touched on the culture in Japan, which greatly values the role of the elderly in social and economic life. According to him, respect for seniors keeps the elderly in that country active and independent. Andreas believes the elderly need to continue being empowered so they are not only viewed as a vulnerable age group, but still have important roles in families and society because the elderly can be sources of prayer, examples, and moral support for the younger generation. “We may no longer be able to do much physically, but parents’ prayers for their children remain important,” he stated. He continued that government attention to the elderly has now increased, so the most important thing is how all elements of society contribute to building awareness that the elderly can still be empowered. Therefore, Andreas invited the elderly to continue growing in faith even as their age increases. He admitted that life experiences have made him understand that spiritual maturity is not always related to age, considering many elderly people feel they are already mature enough and reluctant to accept changes in their spiritual lives. “There is no connection between age and faith. I am also not a perfect person, but at this old age, I feel renewed,” he explained. It should be noted that PWRI is the sole organisation for retirees from Civil Servants (PNS), State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), and Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMD).