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Indonesia is headed for an elderly friendly city: plans for several cities
29/06/2020 Views : 254
Ni Ketut Sutiari
The success of a development is the ideals of a nation marked by an increase in the standard of living and Life Expectancy (UHH) or even Life Expectancy (AHH). This increase in UHH can lead to two conditions namely epidemiological transition and changes in demographic structure. Epidemiological transition is shown by increasing morbidity due to degenerative diseases, while changing demographic structure is indicated by an aging population (elderly) increasing and mortality and number of births decreasing.
The conditions above are a demographic picture that is being experienced by the whole world, including Indonesia. The United Nations (UN) 2011 reports that in 2045-2050 it is estimated that UHH reaches 77.6 years, with the percentage of the elderly population in 2045 of 28.68%. Likewise from the report of the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS) it was stated that in Indonesia there was an increase in UHH from 64.5 years in 2000 to 69.43 years in 2010, and in 2011 to 69.65 years. The elderly population in Indonesia also increased by 0.02% (from 7.56% in 2010 to 7.58% in 2011).
The increase in the number of the elderly population motivates the government to make or formulate a policy aimed at the elderly population group so that they are able to play a role in development and not become a burden to the community around the elderly. The Government of Indonesia issued Law number 13 of 1998 which stipulates that the age limit for senior citizens is 60 years and above. Some policies and programs that are being carried out by the government are contained in Government Regulation Number 43 of 2004 concerning Implementation of Efforts to Improve the Welfare of the Elderly, which includes: 1) religious and mental spiritual services (construction of religious facilities with accessibility services for the elderly); 2) health services through increased healing efforts (curative), expanded in the geriatric / gerontological service area; 3) services for public infrastructure, (ease of use of public facilities, cost relief, ease of travel, provision of special recreational and sports facilities); 4) ease of use of public facilities (government administrative services, such as lifelong identity cards), health services at government-owned health facilities, services and cost relief for the purchase of travel tickets, accommodation, and other services which in nature increase the elderly's access to certain services .
There is a discourse related to providing services to the elderly in order to improve their welfare, namely creating an elderly-friendly city. This discourse has been contained in a guideline that was launched at the XVIII Congress of Gerontology and Geriatry (IAGG) held in June 2005 in Rio De Janerio, Brazil. And in 2008, the National Commission (Komnas) Elderly held a seminar on "Age Friendly City" which was attended by a number of experts from the Asean countries, which discussed the World Elderly Friendly City. Some countries agree to conduct research in several cities that lead to agreement on criteria to declare a city as a Friendly City.
The creation of an Elderly City is a form of recognition that a friendly city for the Elderly is a necessity as one of the three priorities of the International Action Plan on Humanity and as a logical response to the promotion of the sense of health and contribution of the elderly population in maintaining the sustainability of the city.
Active aging: the basis of an elderly, friendly city
The idea of creating an Elderly Friendly City is built on the framework of active aging according to WHO. Active aging is the process of optimizing health, participation and safety opportunities to improve the quality of life into old age. According to WHO (2007), in an elderly friendly city, policies, services, conditions and supporting structures encourage an elderly person to live actively through: recognition of the wide range of capacity and resources of the elderly, anticipation and flexible response to needs and preferences, respecting decisions and choices lifestyle, protect those who are vulnerable, and promote the inclusion and contribution of the elderly in every aspect of people's lives.
Active aging is a life-long process, so the friendly city of the elderly is not just for the elderly. The existence of buildings and freeways increases mobility and independence of young and old disabled people. Then a safe place to live and make children, young women and the elderly can go out with confidence so they can participate in recreational and social activities. The community as a whole benefits from the participation of the elderly as volunteers and paid workers, as well as the local economy benefits from elderly customers as consumers. The key sentence that needs to be considered in relation to socially and physically friendly cities is to provide opportunities for all, including the elderly (WHO, 2007).
Guidelines for Friendly Cities
This guide was created with the aim of helping cities see themselves in the perspective of the elderly so that they can be identified where, and how cities can be more elderly-friendly. The guidelines are for individuals and groups who are interested in creating elderly-friendly cities, including governments, voluntary organizations, the private sector and civic groups. The principle in using the guidelines for elderly friendly cities is to involve the elderly as full partners in each stage.
The elderly are involved in assessing the strengths and gaps of the city, i.e. they will explain their personal experiences and subsequently they will propose changes and can participate in the implementation of improvements. The situation of the elderly is expressed through a bottom-up approach that provides essential information and will subsequently be analyzed by gerontologists and decision makers in developing or adapting interventions and policies. And in the follow-up stage of the elderly friendly action stage, the elderly are still involved in monitoring the development of the city and acting as an advisor for the elderly friendly city.
The criteria formulated in creating elderly-friendly cities are set out in eight city living standards in WHO (2007), which have been agreed by 33 countries. The eight standards intended are:
(1) Open spaces and buildings (clean cities that set regulations to limit noise and strong or dangerous odors in public places; green spaces with clean toilet facilities and friendly walkways; anti-slip sidewalks, wide enough for wheelchairs with edges ramps to the freeway and sidewalks; orderly and obeyed roads and traffic with top priority are pedestrians; separate bicycle lanes; security from building angles and legal compliance; accessible services for the elderly and separate counters for the elderly; access into buildings that have elevators, ramps, banisters, stairs that are not too steep, floors are not slippery, comfortable rest areas and adequate public toilets: clean, well cared for and accessible to various group abilities).
(2) Elderly friendly transportation (affordability in terms of tariffs and consistency; proper transportation schedules, priority seating for elderly people; low-scaled vehicles, low floors and comfortable seating, polite drivers who want to stop patiently waiting for passengers, clear information, easily accessible parking near the building and others.
(3) Elderly friendly housing (pleasant housing, convenience for primary needs, pleasant housing design, can be designed according to the needs of the elderly (have the accessibility needed by the elderly; for example there are handrails in the bathroom, not high terrace traps, other means easy to reach) and attractive design for the elderly; a comfortable living environment for the elderly in the sense of housing that is not congested, not located in disaster prone areas, and the elderly feels safe in their living environment).
(4) Social Participation, among others is providing a place for the gathering of the elderly to carry out activities such as elderly gymnastics, health consultations and psychology, communicating with fellow seniors as a place to share knowledge and announcements about other elderly activities.
(6) Civil participation and friendly work of the elderly, the intention is basically these elderly are not entirely fragile, most of them elderly are still strong enough and potential to do a job and participate in an activity, and many of them need activities and of course these activities need to be adjusted to their conditions. For this reason, legislation from the government is needed to support the elderly so that they can continue working; there is support for elderly entrepreneurs and opportunities for entrepreneurship; recognized and rewarded by the contribution of the elderly in their work and paid fairly for their work.
(7) Communication and information, the elderly are expected to meet in public meetings at the community center so that they can receive and access information needed for them. This communication is expected to be conveyed in simple language and if necessary printed in the form of leaflets or brochures with letters that are quite clearly read by the elderly and instructions for operating computers and the internet are designed in a language that is easy to understand and there is extensive computer and internet services at prices affordable (minimal cost).
(8) Community support and health services. This health service is expected to be easily accessible to the elderly where public transportation is expected to support them to get to the health facility. An integrated service system will greatly facilitate the elderly to seek treatment, for example, if further examination is needed, it does not need to be referred elsewhere. In addition, the service system also respects the elderly as they do not need to queue (there is a special counter service for the elderly).
If one of the eight criteria is studied and explored to be implemented it will be very long to describe because it can be reviewed from various aspects. Sugianto (2008) states that the discussion of elderly-friendly city standards above, can lead to opinions that are pros and cons so that very many opinions are likely to be polemic in formulating these criteria. Many criteria were submitted to make the ideal elderly friendly city, but according to Sugianto from the National Commission on Elderly that it was possible for a city to be so complete according to WHO criteria ?. Sugianto also added, if it met 25% of the criteria in the world friendly city guidelines, it would be very adequate.
In many countries it shows that the elderly constitute a high proportion in the population of rural areas and are isolated as a consequence of the emigration of the younger generation. The Canadian federal and provincial governments are implementing projects to identify the characteristics of elderly friendly communities in several small towns and villages, and the plan is that the results of the research will be disseminated internationally. How about the case in Indonesia? Are there any preparations for an elderly, friendly city? There still needs to be a study of when a city is declared an elderly friendly city.