The Role of Elderly- Special Garden

as a Social Interaction Space for the Elderly Community

in Semarang City

Hetyorini

and Andi Purnomo

Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, 17 Agustus 1945 University Semarang

Jl. Pawiyatan Luhur, Bendan Dhuwur – Semarang 50235

Architecture Study Program, Civil Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Semarang State University

Gedung E12, Kampus UNNES Sekaran Gunungpati Semarang 50229

Keywords: Elderly, Geriatric, Elderly garden.

Abstract: Healthy living in old age is a dream for the elderly. This elderly health supports the increasing life expectancy

of Indonesian people. The success of the current development can be seen by the increase in life expectancy

that has an impact on the increasing number of elderly people. Indonesia belongs to an old structured country

because the elderly population reaches more than 7% (who provisions) of the total population. Central java

ranks third of the five provinces in Indonesia with the largest number of elderly, but currently does not have

a park specifically for the elderly and does not have an elderly regional regulation. This fact is quite ironic

because the elderly people actually have the same rights as other citizens in the use of public open space. Thus

the role of public open space for the elderly will be very supportive in the process of improving health quality.

The elderly need interaction with the public, in this case the elderly need for social interaction space in the

form of public space that is an elderly park. This study aims to create integration between geriatric science

and architecture in the planning of elderly parks and develop criteria for planning elderly gardens. The method

used is qualitative where to search data by means of purposive sampling and sampling area. The findings of

this study are in the form of an elderly garden planning criteria that can be used as a basis for the preparation

of the elderly regulation. By providing a special room for the elderly, it is hoped that it will improve the

quality of life of the elderly and make Semarang city an elderly friendly city.

1 INTRODUCTION

According to the Republic of Indonesia Act number

13 of 1998 the meaning of the elderly or the elderly is

a community that has reached the age of 60 (sixty)

and above.

Based on population projection data as shown in

Figure 1, it is estimated that in 2017 there will be

23.66 million elderly people in Indonesia (9.03%). It

is predicted that the elderly population in 2020 (27.08

million), in 2025 (33.69 million), in 2030 (40.95

million) and in 2035 (48.19 million). With almost 24

million elderly people in 2017, Indonesia is included

in the old structured country because the elderly

population reaches more than 7% (WHO provisions)

of the total population.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency,

SUSENAS 2015 is available. 19 provinces (55.88%)

of Indonesia have an old population structure. From

the Figure 2, it can be seen that the three provinces

with the largest percentage of elderly are DI

Yogyakarta (13.81%), Central Java (12.59) and East

Java (12.25%).

Figure 1: Population development in the world.

190

Hetyorini, . and Purnomo, A.

The Role of Elderly- Special Garden as a Social Interaction Space for the Elderly Community in Semarang City.

DOI: 10.5220/0009008301900194

In Proceedings of the 7th Engineering International Conference on Education, Concept and Application on Green Technology (EIC 2018), pages 190-194

ISBN: 978-989-758-411-4

Figure 2: Percentage of elderly population in Indonesia

2017.

Central Java ranks second out of the five

provinces in Indonesia with the largest number of

elderly, but until now they do not have an elderly

garden. While East Java and West Java, which ranks

3rd and 8th, have an elderly garden. This condition

should receive attention from the provincial

government of Central Java where the increasing

number of elderly population will also affect the

implementation of development.

Healthy living in old age supports the increasing

life expectancy of Indonesian people. The purpose of

human life is to grow old but stay healthy (Darmojo,

2004). With the development of technology in the

health sector, life expectancy in the coming years

increased from 66.7 years to 70.5 years (Kodim,

2009).

Some of the factors that have caused humans to

age with all their problems have been studied in

geriatrics (medicine) or advanced health sciences

which are also related to psychological and social

aspects. On the other hand, the elderly (elderly) need

interaction with the public, in this case the elderly

need for social interaction space in the form of public

open space in the form of an elderly park.

Elderly residents are part of the population of a

city which basically has the same rights in the

utilization of public open space (public space).

Mulyandari (2011) said that public space is basically

a container that can accommodate certain activities /

activities of the community, both individually and in

groups. Kevin Lynch (1981) in Good City Form

describes that a good place is a place that is

comfortable and convenient for its citizens, adults,

young children, people with physical limitations, etc.,

in this case, including the elderly or the elderly. The

city must be able to accommodate the needs of its

population.

The city of Semarang itself has a park that can be

accessed by the general public including: Minister's

Park Supeno, Serasi Park (Ungaran), Tabanas Park,

Gajahmungkur Park, Simpanglima Park, Parang

Kusumo Park (Tlogosari), Srigunting Park, Semarang

Park Indah, Diponegoro park, park Jl. Kawi,

Pandanaran park and others. But all these parks only

provide little space and even no access for the elderly

and disabled. Public open space is mostly just as a

place of recreation and complementing the contents

of the city and its existence does not answer the needs

of the community for public open space that serves as

a means to improve the quality of life of citizens.

In terms of the availability of public open space in

the city of Semarang compared to the area and

population, it can be said to be very lacking.

Especially in terms of requirements, quality and

access to the elderly (disabled) and disabled people.

Some of the above need to get serious attention from

the Semarang City government amid the rampant

construction of malls and apartments.

The main problem is the extent to which the

Semarang City government can accommodate the

needs of the elderly for public open spaces in

accordance with the requirements. The purpose of

this study is to create an integration between geriatric

science and architecture in planning an elderly park

and preparing criteria for planning an elderly garden.

The urgency of this research is that the planning or

design of public open space is not only supported by

architectural science and urban planning, but more

precisely with the support of other fields of science

which are still related, in this case geriatric science.

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1. Method

The method used is qualitative where qualitative

methods are used to identify and explain the data

obtained based on existing conditions and the results

of the data collection are reviewed to be analyzed

further through the principles of geriatric disciplines

and public open spaces so that findings can be

obtained. Whereas in reviewing based on the

standards or regulations that apply, the normative

method is used.

2.2 Data Collection Method

The method that will be used in data collection refers

to the methodology used which is qualitative, where

from the existing data then categorized into certain

themes to facilitate the analysis. Data collection is

done through direct observation and interviews.

Observations are carried out directly supported by

secondary data sources (literature, photography and

The Role of Elderly- Special Garden as a Social Interaction Space for the Elderly Community in Semarang City

191

sketches) and observations from selected respondents

(indirect observation). While the interview activity is

the primary data source which is obtained from

parties who directly provide data in this case the

elderly community respondents through a question-

and-answer process. To explore the data from the

respondents selected the type of free guided

interview, where the interviewer makes the main

issues that will be studied (guided) as a guide in the

interview process while in the interview process is

free speech.

2.3 Materials and Tools

The research material was obtained from the

collection of materials from supporting data sources,

namely: material from literature / literature sources,

material obtained from planning objects and material

obtained from resource persons / respondents while

the tools referred to here are equipment that used in

conducting surveys that serve to assist in the data

collection process.

2.4 Samples and Respondents

The sampling method is not chosen randomly but

uses certain considerations (purposive sampling) with

the intention that the sample taken can be

representative that can provide clear information /

images so that the number of research samples is not

determined in advance.

Then as a population is the elderly and parks in

the city of Semarang. The connection with the

problem in the planning area is the snowball sampling

technique that is extracting data through in-depth

interviews from one respondent to another and so on

until the researcher does not find new information.

Another factor in determining the sample is the

informant in this case the respondents who have

special criteria, namely the elderly and visitors to

parks in Semarang City. The selection of respondents

can develop according to the needs in obtaining data.

2.5 Data Analysis

Data analysis will be done is making abstraction

based on data that has been collected and then

categorized. The data analysis process is carried out

since data collection or since the first time in the field.

Furthermore, after all data has been collected,

intensive and extensive data analysis is carried out

after returning from the field.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The study was conducted on 3 (three) parks in the city

of Semarang, including parks: Pandanaran, Gajah

Mungkur and Sampangan. Each of these parks has its

own peculiarities based on the location, history, area,

facilities, service area and the needs of the local

community for public open spaces. So far these parks

have been very supportive of the public's need for

public open space even though in terms of the total

needs of the people of Semarang City the public open

space that is comfortable is still very far away which

is about ± 7% of the 20% recommended conditions

(Permen PU, 2008). Based on observations from the

3 parks, only Pandanaran Park was designed using a

ramp that could be accessed by the elderly and

disabled, but the ramp was still far from the required

requirements. Table 1 shows the study conducted on

the object of research based on the park's service to

the elderly and disabled.

From the results of the analysis above obtained a

basic criteria for planning a special elderly garden in

the city of Semarang that combines the planning

requirements of the elderly garden in terms of the

field of architectural science and the requirements of

a place that can be accessed by the elderly in the field

of geriatrics. Criteria for elderly parks based on the

above studies are as follows:

 The area of the park and the number of elderly

people.

The planned park area must be based on the

number of elderly people in an area and the possibility

of increasing the number of elderly people. This will

support in terms of comfort where park users are not

only the elderly, but people who do not have special

needs will also take advantage of the park. Minimum

garden area is 0.30 m2 / urban village population.

 Ease of access to the park.

Access to the elderly park must be taken into

account considering that the elderly and disabled have

the limitations of traveling to the park. Limitations in

terms of physical conditions and limited facilities for

going to the park. Access to the park must be as easy

as possible and as close as possible to residential

areas.

 Park security.

Parks that are planned must be safe, meaning safe

against crime. Because elderly people have

limitations, the location of the park should not be in

crime-prone areas.

EIC 2018 - The 7th Engineering International Conference (EIC), Engineering International Conference on Education, Concept and

Application on Green Technology

192

Table 1. Result of the research on park service for elderly

and disabled.

Study Location

Taman

Gajah

Mungkur

Location 2

Taman

Pandanaran

Location 3

Taman

Sampangan

Area 9.07 km

0.70 km

0.98 km

Population

(person)

63,707 7,259 62,375

Minimal

Required

Garden Area

)

19,122 2,178 8,713

Garden Area

)

7,039

(36.8%;

Not

Feasible)

600

(27.5%;

Not

Feasible)

3,587

(19.2%;

Not

Feasible)

Accesibility easy easy easy

RAM Not

Available

with too

steep RAM

(1:5)

Available

with

suitable

steepness.

In not good

condition

Railing Not

Available

Not

Available

Not

Available

Disable path Not

Available

Available Available

Noise Medium Very Noisy Very Noisy

Pedestrian

Material

Not

Available

Available Available

Vegetation Enough Less Less

Pollution No

Pollution

Very high Very high

Lighting not

sufficient

at night

not

sufficient

at night

not

sufficient

at night

Garden

Facility

Available;

poorly

maintained

Available;

poorly

maintained

Available;

poorly

maintained

Parking Not

available

Parking for

Bicycle

Inadequate

parking for

motorcycle

Bus Stop Available Not

Available

Not

Avilable

Park

Convenience

Comfortable

Not

Comfortable,

quite hot

Not

Comfortable,

quite hot

 Special parking space.

The park must have a special parking area for the

elderly and disabled who are safe and comfortable

and adjacent to the park. The park must be accessible

from the parking lot to enter the elderly park. The

location of the parking lot is attempted to deal directly

with the park.

 Bus stops and crossings.

The location of the public transportation stop must

be close and go directly to the park. The stop must be

continuous with the crossing for easy access to the

park.

 Availability of RAM.

Ram must be available from the highway to the

sidewalk and from the sidewalk to the park, as well as

to the toilet. Ram is the most important means for the

elderly and disabled to make it easier to reach the park

and reach higher or lower places. Ram must have the

required degree of slope that is not more than 7.

 Away from noise.

Parks must be far from sources of noise because

the elderly need comfort and tranquility in the park.

By feeling comfortable, the elderly can move without

interruption.

 Park material.

Materials that are used in planning an elderly

garden should not be slippery for the safety and

comfort of elderly activities, made of safe or special

material. Some parts of the floor serve as a means of

reflection, the width of the road in the park is

sufficient and there is a color as a marker.

 Types of plants.

Selected types of plants that are not harmful to the

elderly, have aesthetic value, can produce O₂ and

improve environmental quality. There are enough

shade trees, directing plants, ground cover and

aesthetic plants.

 Provision of railing in the park.

Railing is needed in the park to help facilitate the

activities of the elderly in the park and in the toilet.

 Away from pollution.

The location of the park must be far from

unwanted pollution and has cool air.

 Color.

Coloring to mark the edges of stairs and stairs

above and below. Color as a differentiator of the path

between the elderly and disabled and the path for

normal visitors.

 Lighting in the park.

The amount of lighting inside and outside the park

is sufficient and not dazzling.

The Role of Elderly- Special Garden as a Social Interaction Space for the Elderly Community in Semarang City

193

 Facilities in the garden.

There is a rest area (sitting group, bench) and it is

not too far apart. The toilet has a hand grip and is

easily reached, the toilet floor is not slippery. The

drain is good to prevent slippery floors. Can be added

to flower beds for wheelchair users (special designs)

or other additional facilities that can be used by the

elderly. Toilet that is easy to reach.

The provision of elderly parks is not only able to

accommodate elderly activities in open spaces, but

there is a need for provisions or criteria that are

suitable as a special park for the elderly. Some things

that can be taken into consideration in developing the

criteria for an elderly park should not only be based

on architectural aspects but also look at geriatric

science in which there are important parts that are

needed by the elderly for a public open space or an

elderly park as their place to move, interact social and

improve health and fitness.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Observations show that the existence of parks in the

city of Semarang is still limited to formality in

providing facilities for the elderly and still not in

accordance with the recommended conditions. From

some observations it turns out that only Pandanaran

park provides ram for the elderly and disabled, even

though the existing ram (1: 5) does not match the

minimum standard of the specified ram (1:12).

Completeness of park facilities has not been fulfilled

properly, especially parking problems and visitor

convenience. So far the existing parks can only be

accessed by people who do not have physical

limitations. Planning for the elderly garden and the

Elderly Regional Regulation must be realized as soon

as possible considering the increasing number of

elderly people in Semarang City. Planning an elderly

garden must see the physical and psychological needs

of the elderly which also involve geriatrics.

Minimum area requirements for each village are not

in accordance with prescribed standards.

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Kodim, N., 2009, “Penapisan Gangguan Fungsi Kognitif di

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EIC 2018 - The 7th Engineering International Conference (EIC), Engineering International Conference on Education, Concept and

Application on Green Technology

194