Seven young cadre Anggrek Elderly Posyandu  Watugedug Hamlet, Guwosari Village, Bantul still continue to serve the elders. It never crossed their minds that the urge to help the routine posyandu monthly activities and visit services (homecare) for the elderly who are unable to perform routine activities due to illness (bedridden), only because of fulfilling the requirements of obtaining vocational scholarships. Even though the process has a lot to learn, now for them to help and serve is a calling. And it has already been three years of their devotion to the elders. 

The seven of them shared their tasks and targets in doing homecare for one Watugedug Hamlet. They divided themselves into 3 groups whose priority target for each group was the elderly who were in their immediate environment. The first group, 2 young cadres who lived in RT01 and RT 02, group two, 2 young cadres visited the elderly who lived in RT03, and the third group consisted of 3 young cadres who visited the elderly in RT 04 and RT 05. The visit was carried out  after their school hours, according to the agreement of each group member.

As usual their routine activities  is to measure blood pressure, talk to the elderly, then bring a parcel of food. What was special during the visit last month (March 1, 2020) yesterday was giving a parcel of love in order to be grateful for 18 years anniversary of SurveyMETER. (TPA / JF)

Field stages expansion of the study of the Integrated Household and Individual Data-Based Stunting Handling System (TEPAT RAMAH) began with program socialization activities to all districts and villages in Nganjuk Regency. Thursday (02/27/20) the first socialization was held in the Hall of Patianrowo District, as a pilot study district.  Participants in the socialization were all villages in the Patianrowo District and related institutions at the district and sub-district level. Two people who were interested in the village attended the activity, namely the village head and the staff in charge of the village profile compiler. 

The series of socialization activities opened by Edi Srianto as Patianrowo Sub-District Head, then an overview of activities by Purwanto Hari as the Head of Statistics and Information of the Public Communication Office of Communication and Information, discussion of financing schemes by Ovie Andrianto as Head of Community Empowerment and Community Empowerment Office of Nganjuk District, and an explanation of the substance and technical activities by Roni Hermoko as the coordinating committee of the activities of SurveyMETER.

In his introduction, Edi Srianto said that the village profile is an important objective picture for the village. Accurate data in profiles can be used as village development planning. "All the data needed is in the village profile including the data variables that have hampered village development," said Edi.

Hari Purwanto expressed his hope that this program could not be carried out casually but rather fully supported by the village government. Because if every village fills in their profile with the right data, it will bring up the real potential of the village which indirectly promotes the village itself until the possibility of interested ones coming from abroad. "Hopefully with the synergy between the village and the region this Nganjuk can be turned into one data," Hari said.

Whereas Ovie said that the data compilation program was a proof of integration in the interests of villages and regions.  Ovie also invites all village governments to account for financial assistance from the central government which amounts to billions of rupiah with accurate development data according to the system currently being designed by SurveyMETER and Nganjuk Communication and Information Technology.

While in the explanation session and briefing on the technical plan of activities to the person in charge of data and village profiles, Roni Hermoko began his presentation by conveying what SurveyMETER had done in collaboration with the Nganjuk District Government through the Health Service and 11 villages in Patianrowo District from 2018 until now. That the sub-districts and 11 villages in Patianrowo already have quality data dashboards, which can be utilized both for the preparation of village profiles, development planning, and others.  The dashboards can be updated by each village at very affordable costs by the village budget fund. "So in the future in the future expansion of our study, we are all the spearheads for the quality of the data produced," said Roni while inviting all participants to be coordinators in each village to coordinate the data cadres.

In this long series of activities the Nganjuk Diskominfo as the data guardian of the Nganjuk Regency is SurveyMETER's working partner acting as the PIC program of the Nganjuk District Government. Diskominfo Nganjuk through Nuri Prihandoko as the coordinator of the field technical implementer from the office will arrange a schedule and route for outreach to the 19 other districts that will begin in March 2020. (JF)

The following is the publication of these activities on the local media online portal:

https://kabarnganjuk.com/dinas-kominfo-gelar-sosialisasi-penyusunan-data-desa-dan-daerah-terintegrasi/

https://diskominfo.nganjukkab.go.id/berita/detail-berita/71

Angklung Nusantara Cross Generations Group Posyandu Elderly Bougenville Iroyudan Hamlet Guwosari Village which is guided by SurveyMETER mentoring activities is one of the extracurricular activities for grade 3 and 4 students of Iroyudan Elementary School in Guwosari Village. Friday (21/02) yesterday in the courtyard of the Iroyudan Hamlet office was their first day of training. The training was led by the cadre coordinator, Siti Maemunah.

All students from the two grades enthusiastically attended the exercise. Their faces express happiness and joy. "Exciting, happy to try and practice Angklung," said Fano (grade 4) who claimed to be first time to practice.

Viona (Fano's classmate) who had participated in training with the Angklung Nusantara Cross Generations Group Posyandu Bougenville, felt happy because she could meet her friends not in class but playing angklung together in an open field.

How this activity became an extracurricular at Iroyudan Elementary School, SurveyMETER co-organizing coordinator, Titis Putri Ambarwati, conveyed the Principal of Iroyudan Elementary School, Jaswabi Wantoro, who asked directly to be an extracurricular activity.  Initially, a number of students and members of the Angklung Nusantara Lintas Generasi Group told their activities to the school principal and they wanted the angklung art to be staged at a school event.  Furthermore, according to Titis, the principal welcomed the wishes of some of these students and asked permission and direct support from the Head of Iroyudan Hamlet to be assisted in the training process.  "A number of exercises in the future will use Angklung property of the Angklung Nusantara Lintas Generasi Group, but SDN Iroyudan has budgeted the purchase of several sets of angklung," explained Titis.

The angklung extracurricular art group of SDN Iroyudan has just been formed and this training has been projected to be able to perform in every school event such as closing the year and commemorating national holidays. (JF-AN)

The coverage on SurveyMETER’s mentoring programs on elderly at Village Guwosari, Pajangan Bantul is published in Active Aging Consortium Asia Pacific, January-February edition. The bulletin publishes two articles entitled “Intergenerational Traditional Music Group Unites Older Person to Young People” by Wayan Suriastini,  and “Young Cadres Care Older Person” by Bondan Sikoki.

As Bali gains a reputation not only as a tourist destination but as a retirement option for Indonesians and foreigners, the island province is considering how to better accommodate its own elderly population.

Nationwide, lower fertility rates and a longer life expectancy mean that Indonesia is heading quickly towards an ageing population. The proportion of the population aged 60 and older has doubled over the past 50 years, and is projected to constitute a quarter of the population by 2050, according to records from Statistics Indonesia(link is external). A healthy and productive elderly population can bring prosperity to the nation. But an unhealthy elderly population can bring social and economic burdens.

Dementia, including dementia resulting from Alzheimer’s disease, is a brain disorder that influences an individual’s emotions, memories and decisions. It is a common ailment among elderly populations, and has been highlighted as a public health priority by WHO, which is working to build awareness of its symptoms and how to prevent it.

Bali has very high rates of dementia(link is external), affecting 32 per cent of the province’s elderly population by age 70. This is compared to only 20 per cent of people of the same age in Yogyakarta(link is external), for example, which has a higher proportion of elderly people relative to its population.

These findings come from a large-scale study of dementia in Bali and Yogyakarta by SurveyMETER in collaboration with Alzheimer Indonesia, the Suryani Institute for Mental Health, and Atma Jaya and Udayana Universities, funded by the Knowledge Sector Initiative.

Deeper analysis reveals that elderly people in Bali generally have a lower level of education than those in Yogyakarta. The majority of Bali’s senior citizens were also found to live in rural areas, where they are statistically more likely to suffer from stress and non-communicable diseases. A low level of social participation further drives their vulnerability. In combination, these factors help to explain the high rate of dementia among Bali’s elderly population.

Guided by the research, a pilot project(link is external) trialling an “elderly- and dementia-friendly community(link is external)” was launched in September 2018 in Ketewel village, in Bali’s Gianyar district, where rates of dementia were found to be the highest. It aimed to raise awareness about the symptoms of dementia, and how to take preventative action to minimise the risks of developing it.

Bali’s government and Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) issued a policy on elderly wellbeing in late 2018, setting a good example for evidence-based policy for this vulnerable section of the population.

The costs of ageing

According to a 2017 WHO report, the social and economic impacts of dementia are borne not only by individuals but also their families and communities, and by extension, the nation. The estimated cost of dementia globally reached US$1 trillion in 2018, and is projected to reach US$2 trillion by 2030, according to last year’s World Alzheimer Report. Expenses can arise from medical costs, salaries for caregivers, or the opportunity cost of other household members who give up paid work to take care of elderly family members with dementia.

The Ministry of Health points to ageing and an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases as the main factors behind cognitive decline. These conditions can curb daily activities, which can eventually accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia among the elderly.

Stigma and misinformation about dementia remains a global issue, and remains relevant in Indonesia. Of most concern, dementia appears to be broadly considered a normal part of ageing across Indonesia, with very little awareness of preventative actions that can be taken.

The Bali government’s new policy takes a rights-based approach to ensuring well-being among its elderly population. Under the new policy, Bali’s elderly individuals are guaranteed access to geriatric care in public health facilities without charge. Further, the policy affirms the right of the elderly population to protection from exploitation, violence, poor treatment from inside or outside the home, and from natural disasters.

Encouraging an active life into old age, the policy also affirms the right of the elderly to be involved in the community and to obtain a decent job. Financial support for the policy has been pledged under provincial, district, and village statutes and bylaws.

A paradise for all?

Before the pilot project in Ketewel, about 90 per cent of elderly residents had never heard of dementia. So the first step was to raise awareness and understanding among the whole community about what dementia is, how to prevent it, and what the risks and symptoms are.

Further training in treatment of people with dementia was conducted by Alzheimer Indonesia, followed by training for health workers in community health centres (puskesmas) and related local government staff in Gianyar district.

Ketewel village officials supported the project by reviving integrated health services for the elderly (posyandu lansia), introducing nutritious food subsidies, and organising group activities for the older population. These programs aim to improve general well-being among the elderly, as well as minimise the risk of developing dementia.

Ageing is a fact of life, but well-being outcomes for the elderly are better when they are supported by their families, communities and government. Dementia should not be seen as inevitable part of ageing, but a condition that can be prevented and treated.

Stakeholders must sit together and make a concerted effort to increase general knowledge of dementia and its symptoms, and to promote early prevention efforts, including expansion and improvement of health services for the elderly.

The approach being trialled in Ketewel sets an example for how the whole community can be involved in improving well-being among the elderly, something that will become of vital importance in a rapidly ageing Indonesia.

*Riska Dwi Astuti is a researcher at SurveyMETER, a research institute in Yogyakarta.

Source:

https://bit.ly/352vvRl