RESEARCHERS
Bappenas (National Development Planning Agency) Team
Maliki, Director for Poverty Alleviation and Community Empowerment
Dinar Dana Kharisma, Senior Policy Planner, Directorate of Poverty Alleviation and Community Empowerment
SurveyMETER Team
Ni Wayan Suriastini (Team Leader), Executive Director
Endra Dwi Mulyanto (Assistant Team Leader), Researcher
Danang Prasetya, Programmer
Ika Yulia Wijayanti, Researcher/Analyst
Naryanta, Researcher/Field Supervisor
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) Team
Osuke Komazawa, Special Advisor on Healthcare and Long-Term Care Policy
Sota Machida, Senior Policy Officer, Healthcare and Long-Term Care Policy
A phone survey of older people and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Indonesia was conducted as a joint project by ERIA, Bappenas, and SurveyMETER. Its aim was to (1) measure the general knowledge of older people about COVID-19, (2) compare the welfare and health status of older people before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, (3) understand their difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, (4) monitor the assistance they receive, and (5) identify the policies required to mitigate the impact on them.
The results revealed that more than half of older people saw their income fall, particularly those who depended on income from work or their children’s income. Significantly more older people received government support compared with before the pandemic. One in six older persons reported a deterioration in their health during the pandemic, while most older people maintained their social interaction despite the pandemic. The government is encouraged to strengthen its efforts to develop the support system for older people to ensure realization of the vision set out in the National Strategy for Older People.
An initial report was published based on the survey conducted in July 2020, and findings of a follow-up survey conducted in 2021 will be published as well.
