Protection of the elderly in disaster situations in Indonesia
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Date
2020-01
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Publisher
IOP Publishing
Abstract
The territory of Indonesia is an area that is prone to disasters, both natural, nonnatural
and social disasters. Thus, the elderly in Indonesia live in a situation of threat of
disaster. This study uses a secondary data research method with locus is focused on areas of
Indonesia where disasters have occurred in the last five years from 2016 to 2020, namely;
earthquake in Pidie Jaya, earthquake and tsunami in Lombok, earthquake and tsunami in Palu,
social disaster in Mempawah-West Kalimantan, flash floods in Garut, and the Covid-19
disaster. The data collected was then analyzed using document analysis techniques.
Our analysis result concluded that the absence of caregiver who specifically provide
programmed assistance, makes the elderly feel lonely, stressed and traumatized. Social workers
contribute to the handling of the elderly in disaster locations focused on psychosocial support,
and advocacy of legislative policies.
Description
Disasters, both natural disaster, non-natural disasters and social disasters have prompted various
parties to be involved in paying attention, mobilizing aid, handling emergency and post-emergency
operations. In the last five years, earthquakes in Pidie Jaya (2016), earthquakes and tsunamis in
Lombok (2016), earthquakes, tsunamis and liquefaction in Palu, Central Sulawesi, local scale disasters
such as flash floods in Garut (2017), and social disasters in the form of social conflicts between
community members and the Gafatar community in West Kalimantan (2016).
Various central government agencies and local governments, the world of education, business
institutions to various community organizations are moving to help disaster victims, either directly or
indirectly. Handling and assistance for disaster victims can be in the form of; fulfillment of basic
needs which include food, clothing, and shelter, then health services, and psychosocial support
services or trauma healing
The results of observations by researchers in the field, volunteers or caregivers who came to
disaster locations were more focused on children, and did not pay special attention to the elderly.
Thus, it can be said that the elderly in the disaster area did not receive assistance from the volunteers.
Though, like children, the elderly also need a touch of the soul as long as they are in a disaster
situation, so that the elderly can feel safe, comfortable, and still have fun.