Bakas Ongko Manaharep Covid-19
Translation of “Elderly Facing Covid-19” into one of the Dayak languages, Central Kalimantan.
The number of elderly people are increasing and they are experiencing hidden problems. Support systems help to improve the welfare and productivity of the elderly.
KOMPAS – (28/10/2021) At the age of 91, Prof. Emil Salim coherently conveyed his thoughts titled “Development: Educating the Nation” in the fourth Widjojo Nitisastro Lecture. As a member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), he illustrated Indonesia’s challenges in the midst of major global changes.
The sharpness of analysis by Prof. Emil Salim invited admiration. A fact stated by AIPI Deputy Chair Prof. Sofian Effendi when closing the online lecture, on Wednesday (13/10/2021).
Indonesia’s elderly population is increasing as life expectancy increases. However, according to Professor of Psychology at the University of Indonesia, Saparinah Sadli (94), the government’s attention to the elderly is still minimal.
When the demographic bonus approaches its peak and then starts to decrease, the proportion of people of productive age decreases and the elderly increase. When the elderly are neglected, young people will have to carry the burden of supporting the elderly.
Psychosocially, elderly people are divided into young old age (young old or yold, age 65-74 years), old old age (old old or old, 75-84 years), and old age (oldest old, above 85 years old). ).
The analysis of Prof. Emeritus Moertiningsih Adioetomo (78) and Elda Luciana Pardede from the UI Demographic Institute on as yet unpublished reports, UNFPA Knowledge Hub, March 2020 survey data from the Central Statistics Agency, 2015-2019 Susenas, and 2020 Elderly Population Statistics, shows that the carrying capacity for the elderly is going down.
In 2020 there were 10 people of productive age supporting 1 elderly citizen, in 2045 the ratio will be 5 to 1. In 2020, the majority of young and old elderly (yold, 64.3 percent) live in urban areas (53 percent), the majority have elementary school education (78.2 percent), and women (52.3 percent).
Gender issues
Older women live longer than older men. If health factors are taken into consideration, the life expectancy of yold women is lower.
Older men tend to stay married and older women tend to stay alone when their spouse dies. There are 25.5 percent of elderly men living with their partners and 32.9 percent living with their families, and 14.1 percent of elderly women living alone. The number of poor elderly women is greater, among other things, because men work in more economically rewarding situations during their productive age.
The elderly are poorer than the general population. The main source of meeting the basic needs of the elderly comes from social or family assistance.
The Covid-19 pandemic worsens the socio-economic conditions of the elderly. Many residents have lost their income, resulting in difficulty to support their elderly parents. They reduce the quality and quantity of food. This became evident, among other things, from the SMERU 2021 survey. The elderly also rely on government assistance.
As a result of the pandemic, the elderly cannot carry out routine health checks so that the risk of non-communicable diseases increases, especially for elderly women living in rural areas. Nearly three-quarters of the elderly have National Health Insurance and only 23.2 percent can pay contributions.
Another impact is mental stress. A number of elderly people experience violence from their families due to social and economic pressures. Mental problems were revealed in the elderly’s writings in the book Stay Home Elderly during Covid and Stay Home Elderly and Stay Connected, 1 Year into the Covid-19 Pandemic.
According to Prof. Saparinah, the author of the book together with Ninuk Widyantoro, Agustine Dwiputri, and Yoga Irawan, the pandemic has highlighted the elderly as fellow human beings. There needs to be a support system so that the elderly remain healthy and productive. (NINUK M PAMBUDY)
Source: Kompas Daily. Edition: Thursday, October 28, 2021. Humanities Rubric. Page 11.
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