Indonesia: HelpAge’s local partner, YEL, has reported that the recovery period for older
persons will take a long time due to their dependence on others. Many older people were living
alone before the earthquake as their children have migrated to bigger cities for economic
reasons. Many of those that lived alone before the earthquake now live in temporary shelters
where there are no family members or volunteers to assist them in their daily needs and
physical activities. Some older people have been fortunate enough to move in with relatives
whose homes were not too badly damaged by the earthquake, but in these households there
can be up to 11, sometimes 15 members in one small house. Many older people are still
traumatised, as they are hearing that the last earthquake was not ‘the big one’. There is
still a lot of confusing information among the community about what to do or what to expect.
Older persons prefer to stay in their own home, but now that their house is gone it is difficult
for them to face the future. As can be expected, older people will not be able to rebuild their
homes again without outside assistance because they have lost their income. During YEL’s
most recent visit to the earthquake affected region it was also noted that there is a need for
wheelchairs and eye care.
YEL’s director has also made the following recommendations to the Government:
• Raise awareness among the community about the vulnerability of older people
• Develop older people’s associations (OPAs)
• Implement community-based home care for older people