Wednesday 11 September 2024, 13:00–14.00

Volunteer-based home visits for older people in Indonesia and beyond: Opportunities and challenges

 

Organisers:

• Dr Elisabeth Schroeder-Butterfill, University of Southampton, UK

• Prof Yvonne S. Handajani, Atma Jaya Catholic University Jakarta, Indonesia

• Care Networks in Indonesia research team

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A common observation on older people’s health and care in Asia is that their use of health services is low, especially once they become house-bound. In addition, there are pervasive norms that care for older people is a family responsibility, with limited roles for state and civil society. As a result, older people’s care networks consist almost exclusively of family carers who lack support, training, and information to assist them in their important work. There is clearly a need for an approach which brings basic primary healthcare and support for caregiving into the homes of older people. This session shares insights from a pilot intervention providing home visits to older people by trained community volunteers (kader) in Indonesia and comparisons with similar initiatives in Southeast Asia. It highlights the benefits in terms of health promotion, companionship, and support for carers, and discusses challenges around sustainability and acceptability.

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Thursday 12 September 2024, 13:30–14:15

Publication launch: Unveiling Insights from the 2023 Indonesia Longitudinal Aging Survey

 

Organisers: Asian Development Bank (ADB) and BAPPENAS​

 

Indonesia is experiencing steady growth in its population aged 60 and older. The Indonesia Longitudinal Aging Survey (ILAS) is the first comprehensive survey in the country to provide representative data on the demographics, social and economic status, health, and living conditions of older individuals. Conducted between May and June 2023, the first wave of ILAS surveyed 4,084 respondents aged 45 and older across nine regions with significant older populations, including West Sumatera, Lampung, West Java, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, East Java, Bali, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and the Mollucas.

 

This survey aims to help the government monitor population ageing trends, implement data-driven reforms in healthcare and social security, and evaluate ageing policies' impact. As a longitudinal study, ILAS will track the ageing process across cohorts over time, providing valuable insights into the well-being of older persons and supporting efforts to enhance the understanding of population ageing in Indonesia.