Sahaja Training to Care for Older People in Denpasar

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia states that Indonesia is currently entering a period of aging population, marked by an increase in life expectancy followed by a rise in the number of older people. This condition will bring challenges from various aspects of life, one of which is the increase in the dependency ratio of older people. Dependency in older people occurs due to physical, mental, and social decline, which is reflected in weakness, functional limitations, incapacity, and obstacles associated with the aging process. Therefore, as an effort to maintain the health and productivity of older people in society, the Indonesian government established a health service organization called Posyandu Lansia (Integrated Community Health Post for Older People).

Posyandu Lansia is a health service for older people based on Community-Based Health Efforts (UKBM). It is carried out in accordance with government policies through the Puskesmas (Public Health Center) programs, involving the participation of older people, families, community leaders, and social organizations. Posyandu Lansia is provided as a health service facility for older people, conducted by, for, and from older people, focusing on promotive and preventive services, while not neglecting curative and rehabilitative efforts. Services provided in Posyandu Lansia include exercises for older people, the provision of medicine packages, nutritional food packages (PMT), and health check-ups. In its implementation, each Posyandu has healthcare volunteers who assist in delivering health services under the guidance of Puskesmas health workers. These volunteers are usually local community members trained to provide basic health services and health education for older people.

Denpasar is the capital city and the center of government and the economy of Bali Province. The number of older people in Denpasar in 2023 is 68,478. People categorized as pre-elderly are those who have lived more than half of their life, aged between 45-59 years, while those categorized as elderly are those aged 60 years and older. Health services for pre-elderly and older groups in Denpasar are integrated into the active Posyandu Lansia, with a total of 363 posts. In collaboration with one of the Puskesmas in Denpasar, Puskesmas I Denpasar Utara, the Sahaja Bali Foundation strives to provide health services for older people as well as training and health education for Posyandu Lansia healthcare volunteers as a form of knowledge refreshment.

Puskesmas I Denpasar Utara serves three villages and one sub-district: Dangin Puri Kangin, Dangin Puri Kauh, Dangin Puri Kaja, and Tonja Sub-district. According to the Data and Information Center, there are 5,547 older people living within the area served by Puskesmas I Denpasar Utara. Of these, 514 are categorized as low-income older people according to the Integrated Social Welfare Data from the Denpasar Social Service. Additionally, there are 30 older people categorized as Resti (unable to be active), with moderate to severe dependency.

On Saturday (04/05/2024), at the meeting room of Puskesmas I Denpasar Utara, 40 healthcare volunteers from the Posyandu Lansia in the villages of Dangin Puri Kangin and Dangin Puri Kauh participated in a training session held by the Sahaja Bali Foundation. The Posyandu in these areas will be managed by five healthcare volunteers, including younger group leaders and older adults who act as main motivators. This approach is intended to ensure that the older volunteers can better engage their peers in participating in Posyandu Lansia activities.

The training session included educational activities led by four founders of the Sahaja Bali Foundation. The event began with a prayer and speeches from the Head of Puskesmas I Denpasar Utara and the Chairperson of the Sahaja Bali Foundation, Dr. dr. Gusti Putu Suka Aryana, Sp.PD-KGer. The healthcare volunteers were then asked to complete a pre-test questionnaire to assess their knowledge of older people care.

The first session covered personal hygiene needs for older people, presented by Dr. Ns. Putu Ayu Sani Utami, S.Kep., M.Kep., Sp.Kep.Kom. Dr. Sani explained how older people, as a vulnerable group, should maintain personal hygiene from head to toe to prevent the risk of infections.

The second session, conducted by Mr. I Gede Putu Darma Suyasa, S.Kp., M.Ng., PhD, focused on first aid for emergencies in older people, such as unconsciousness due to heart failure, heart attacks, lung infections, or other conditions like burns, fractures, bleeding, shock, and choking.

In the next session, Dr. dr. Gusti Putu Suka Aryana, Sp.PD-KGer, introduced the Sahaja Bali Foundation and presented information on the Simple Elderly Screening (SKILAS), as well as a simulation of its application with older people.

The final session was presented by Ms. Made Diah Lestari, S.Psi., M.Psi., Ph.D., discussing family care for older people in performing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), as well as care for older people with chronic diseases or disabilities. After the material sessions, the event continued with a Q&A session, where healthcare volunteers asked questions that were answered by the presenters.

The event was participated in enthusiastically by the healthcare volunteers, who expressed gratitude for the valuable knowledge shared. They also appreciated the Sahaja Bali Foundation’s concern for older people in Denpasar. At the end of the event, the healthcare volunteers completed a post-test questionnaire, and the session was closed with a prayer.

The Chairperson of Sahaja Bali Foundation, Dr. Suka Aryana, mentioned that this training session is the beginning of a collaboration between the foundation and Puskesmas I Denpasar Utara as the first pilot area in an effort to create healthy, happy, and prosperous older people (in line with our slogan) in Denpasar. In the following activities, the Sahaja Bali Foundation will provide home visits by our health staff to low-income Resti older people in the village of Dangin Puri Kaja. The same training will also be conducted with Posyandu Lansia healthcare volunteers from other villages in Denpasar.