Family Support to Elderly at Nursing Home in

Medan City, Indonesia

Siti Zahara Nasution

, Cholina Trisa Siregar

, Reni Asmara Ariga

Muhammad Ridha Haykal Amal

, Widya Darayani Purba

and Muhammad Taufik

Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

Faculty of Law, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

Keywords: Elderly, Hopes, Family Support, Awards, Emotional, Information, Instrumental

Abstract: Elderly is someone who generally experiences dependence on family. Family support is very meaningful for

the elderly. This study aims to identify the desires and support given by the family to the elderly who live in

nursing homes. The research design used was descriptive with the total respondents was 30. Data collection

was done by interview. The results of the study found that the elderly had hoped to gather with family

members (63.3%), the elderly received family support in the good category (70%) and emotional support

also in the good category (60%). However, information support in sufficient categories (40%), instrumental

support in sufficient categories (40%). The study concluded that family members and relatives continue to

provide support to the elderly, especially those who live in nursing homes, both appreciation, emotional

support, information and instrumental support, which are useful for improving the quality of life for the

elderly.

1 INTRODUCTION

One indicator of the success of Indonesian

development is the increasing age of life expectancy

(UHH). The increase in UHH causes the number of

elderly people to increase from year to year. The

projection of the average UHH of the Indonesian

population in 2015-2020 is 71.1 years, up from the

2010-2015 projection of 70.7 years (RI Ministry of

Health, 2013). WHO data shows that in 2000 the life

expectancy in the world was 66 years, in 2012 it rose

to 70 years and in 2013 it was 71 years. The

proportion of elderly people in Indonesia also

increases every year. WHO data in 2009 showed the

number of elderly people was 7.49% of the total

population, in 2011 it was 7.69% and in 2013 it

increased to 8.1% of the total population (WHO,

2015).

According to Republic of Indonesia Law

Number 13 of 1998 concerning the welfare of the

elderly, it is revealed that the elderly is someone

who has reached the age of 60 years and over

(Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia,

2014). Statistical data in 2014 showed the number of

elderly people in Indonesia reached 20.24 million,

equivalent to 8.03% of the total population. This

change in population structure affects the number of

dependency burden which reflects the large

economic burden that the productive population

must bear to finance the elderly population, which is

11.90% in 2012 (RI Ministry of Health, 2013).

Elderly people are expected to remain

independent on a primary basis, but because the age

continues to grow and has complex problems that

decrease and increase dependence on others to fulfill

their lives. From the research conducted by

Kuswardani (2008), it was shown that 96.3% of the

elderly were given good support by family members

by reminding the elderly in terms of maintaining

personal hygiene and the environment around them.

problems faced by the elderly must be dealt with by

providing family support so that the elderly will feel

there are others who care, respect and love

themselves (Setiadi, 2008).

Research conducted by Andri (2008), said that

the average elderly person expressed complaints

about the lack of attention and care given by family

members to him. This is caused by various things,

including the busyness of family members, poverty

and low education levels, families do not want to be

356

Nasution, S., Siregar, C., Ariga, R., Amal, M., Darayani Purba, W. and Tauﬁk, M.

Family Support to Elderly at Nursing Home in Medan City, Indonesia.

DOI: 10.5220/0010182600002775

In Proceedings of the 1st International MIPAnet Conference on Science and Mathematics (IMC-SciMath 2019), pages 356-361

ISBN: 978-989-758-556-2

bothered with various problems and diseases that are

generally suffered by the elderly. This causes the

elderly to feel they are not needed and not valued in

their families. Thus, the elderly need to get support

from the family, both appreciation, emotional,

information and instrumental support from family

members for the welfare of the elderly.

Based on the results of a survey conducted on

several elderly people who were in one of the

nursing homes in Medan City, the elderly said their

wishes so far. Elderly wants to meet and gather with

family and relatives in his hometown. Some elderly

people also said that they were not cared for by

family members, so they chose to live in a home, the

elderly were also not allowed to carry out any

activities in their home environment. This makes the

elderly feel no longer needed. The purpose of this

study is to identify the expectations of the elderly

and the support provided by the family to the elderly

who live in the Nursing Home in the City of Medan.

2 METHODS

The research design used in this study is descriptive

which aims to identify family support for the elderly

who live in the Medan Nursing Home.

The population in this study were the elderly

who lived in the Nursing Home in the City of

Medan. While the sampling in this study is the

elderly who have met the criteria of researchers with

a total of 30 elderly.

This research was carried out in a nursing home

in Medan in October 2018 by researchers.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Characteristics of Respondents

From the results of research conducted on 30

respondents who were in nursing homes in Medan

City showed that the majority of respondents aged

between 60-74 years or referred to as elderly with a

percentage of 66.7%. The majority of respondents

are female, indicated by a percentage of 62.2%. The

majority of respondents adhered to Islam with a

percentage of 90% and the majority of respondents

were Javanese with a percentage of 66.7%.

Table 1. Characteristics of Respondents

Variable Frequency (n) Percentage (%)

Age

Elderly (60-74

years old)

Elderly (75-90

years old)

66,7%

33,3%

Gende

Male

Female

37,9%

62,2%

Religion

Moslem

Christiani

90%

10%

Ethnic Group

Javanese

Karo

Mandailing

Batak Toba

Aceh

Minan

66,7%

13,3%

6,7%

3,3%

3.3%

3.2 The Hope of the Elderly

Figure 2. Distribution & Frequency of elderly Hope

From the table above, it can be concluded that

the majority of the elderly in the Nursing Home have

hopes of gathering with family members. This is

indicated by a percentage number of 63.3%.

3.3 Family Support Award for the

Elderly

Family Support to Elderly at Nursing Home in Medan City, Indonesia

357

Figure 3. Distribution & Frequency of Family Support

Award to the elderly

From the table above, it can be seen that the

majority of respondents said that family support

related to respect for themselves was proven by a

percentage of 70%.

3.4 Emotional Family Support for the

Elderly

Figure 4. Distribution & Frequency of Emotional Family

Support to the Elderly

From the Table 4 above, it can be seen that the

majority of respondents, namely 60% said that

family support related to their emotional self is

good.

3.5 Informational Family Support for

the Elderly

Figure 5 Distribution & Frequency of Family Information

Support to the Elderly

The majority of the elderly said that the

informational support from the family they felt was

sufficient. This can be seen from the table above

which shows the percentage results of 40%.

3.6 Instrumental Family Support for

the Elderly

Figure 6 Distribution & Frequency of Instrumental Family

Support to the Elderly

The majority of respondents who felt support from

instrumental families for themselves were enough.

This is proven by the percentage number shown in

the table above, which is 40%.

3.7 Discussion

3.7.1 Elderly Hope in a Nursing Home

The results of research conducted at the Nursing

Home in Medan City show that the elderly have high

hopes of gathering with their family members as

indicated by the results of the percentage of 63.3%

of the 30 respondents who were respondents to this

study. This proves that not all elderly people want to

live alone. Parents who have advanced say they don't

feel happy when they have to live separately with

other family members. The research conducted by

Watt (2014), about "Caregiving Expectations and

Challenges Among Their Adult Children in

Southern Sri Lanka" says that the family or child is

in charge of caring for parents who have been passed

down for generations, this makes the reason for fear

to elderly people. They are afraid that they will lose

their independence, elderly parents also think that

finance also influences balance and goodness in a

family relationship. Clarke & Lorna (2017), in his

research on "Hopes, Fears, and Expectations about

the Future: What Do Older People 's Stories Tell Us

Active Aging?" Which says that elderly parents have

the desire to stay alive. But there is a concern that is

felt by the elderly, namely about future resources,

decreased ability to carry out activities which then

require the help of others to become dependent. This

is what makes the elderly become worried about the

relationship with their family.

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3.7.2 Family Support Award for the Elderly

From the results of research done to the elderly who

live in the Panti Medan City, the awards given by

the family to the elderly are good, as indicated by

the percentage of 70% of 30 elderly people who say

they get good appreciation from their own families.

Elderly said that the award they received, as usual,

was the praise given by the family to him. Being

allowed to live in a nursing home is a great

appreciation that has been felt by the family because

most of the elderly who become respondents have

their own desire to live in a home. The Hafshjan et

all (2016) study, about "A Study of Families'

Experiences of Putting Their Elders in Nursing

Homes" said that some elderly parents had their own

desire to live in nursing homes. One cause of this is

loneliness felt by the elderly because they do not

have a life partner, health status that begins to

decline and the economic limitations of the elderly.

While living in a nursing home, the elderly also said

that he was still valued by family members.

Whatever happens with family members, the elderly

remain informed. This effort is carried out by the

family to maintain and respect the feelings of their

elderly parents. Elderly also said that none of the

visiting family members did listen to the story and

complained during their stay at the institution. It is

not uncommon for the elderly to get compliments

and even gifts from every positive thing they have

done while in the institution. The majority of the

elderly have never felt that they were not valued by

their own family members. In line with the research

conducted by Friedman (1999), in his research "The

Adult Leaner Family in Home" said that providing

support in the form of appreciation to elderly parents

can help the elderly explore the positive values that

exist within themselves, increase ability and

confidence in the elderly and make the elderly feel

valued and useful when experiencing pressure.

Although the majority of the elderly feel happy

with the award given by their family, there are 6.7%

of the elderly who say that they feel enough with the

appreciation received from the family. In addition,

some elderly people who felt they were not getting

awards from their own families, namely 23.3%.

Elderly people feel that they are no longer expected

by the family because they are no longer productive

so the family can entrust the elderly to the Nursing

Home. Elderly also said that they were rarely

visited, the family only contacted the nursing home

staff by telephone if necessary. Ahmad (2012), in his

research on "Overview of Family Support in

Fulfilling Elderly Daily Activities in Tongko

Village, Baroko District, Enrekang District" also

said that 31.4% of respondents did not get good

appreciation from their families. Elderly said that

they did not get good motivation, the elderly also

could not channel their hobbies because the family

assumed that the elderly were no longer able to carry

out physical activities and would pursue the

condition of the elderly.

3.7.3 Emotional Family Support for the

Elderly

Emotional family support felt by the elderly who

live in nursing homes is mostly in the good category.

This is evidenced by the results of the research that

has been done which is as much as 60%. Emotional

support felt by the elderly must be maintained and

must be further enhanced for the welfare of the

elderly themselves. Elderly said there was no

difference felt during his stay in the home. Families

still pay attention to the elderly. Elderly also said

that the most frequently done by family members

every time they visit is the care that is still given to

them when they are sick. The family will come to

the home and bring the elderly home to be cared for

at home lovingly and if necessary will be taken to

the hospital for medical treatment. Elderly people

were also touched when they were visited by their

families, always invited the elderly to go home and

stay at home together. This was felt by the elderly

because of their own desire to live in a home. It is

different from the research conducted by Siddique

(2014), about "Elderly Regarding Behaviour by His

Family Members" who said that the majority of

elderly parents said they were not happy and were

not satisfied with the attitude of family members

who took care of it. Elderly people say loneliness

even among other family members, loneliness and

health problems also occur because of pressure from

their family. The percentage results from this study

also say that nearly 100% of elderly parents want the

support and decent life of their own family

members.

Even so, the results of the study also showed that

20% of the elderly felt enough with family support

related emotionally to him. 20% of other elderly

people also feel a lack of emotional support given by

the family to him. This makes the elderly feel

ignored by their own family members so that the

elderly do not feel excited in living life. Not a few of

the elderly also say that they want to quickly face

the Almighty. Research conducted by Kaur et all

(2015) on "Factors Determining Family Support and

Quality of Life of Elderly Population" said that

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359

support from family members and close relatives is

one of the most important motivations for the health

of the elderly, thus improving the quality of life for

the elderly. the elderly self.

3.7.4 Informational Family Support for the

Elderly

Based on the research that has been done to the

elderly who are in the Medan City Nursing Home

regarding informational related family support, that

is in the sufficient category indicated by the

percentage of 40% of 30 respondents. This happens

because the elderly feel that the family cares about

themselves. Elderly said that they still received

information from their families, although not much.

And sometimes receive information by telephone.

The results of a study conducted by Ahmad (2012),

about "Overview of Family Support in Fulfilling

Elderly Daily Activities in Tongko Village, Baroko

Sub-District, Enrekang District" said that 66.7% of

the elderly studied received good information

support from their families. From the description of

the research that has been done shows that good

information given by families to the elderly, namely

information for personal hygiene, eating regularly

and using tools for the elderly who need tools for

their activities.

However, there are still 26.7% of the elderly who

say that they get family support related to

information well. This is felt because indeed the

family often visits to meet him. None of the

information is stored by his family. However, 33.3%

of the elderly also said that they received very little

information from their families. both information

about the family itself and his health. Elderly said

this because his family rarely came to visit him, one

of the reasons he rarely visited was because his

family and relatives lived outside the city. Just

occasionally visit and sometimes the communication

they make is only using the telephone. The results of

the study by Camelia et all (2017), about "Family

Social Support in Meeting the Elderly Social Needs

in Panti" said that the elderly still get news from

relatives and community partners through families

who come to visit or families bring relatives and

community partners to meet with elderly people.

This is done so that their role is maintained in the

community.

3.7.5 Instrumental Family Support for the

Elderly

From the results of the research that has been done,

it can be seen that the majority of the elderly say that

instrumental family support that he feels is

sufficient. This happens because the elderly feel that

the instrumentality given by the family to him is

enough. the elderly realized that it was impossible

for his family to accompany him completely because

he was in a home. Families also have to work to

make ends meet at the institution so that they cannot

visit themselves frequently. Swiderska (2014), in his

research "The Importance of Family Support in Old

Age" said that the presence of the family is a

necessity that is very much needed by parents who

are elderly. Older parents feel comfort and strength

if they are near their family. The most numerous

causes of death carried out intentionally by the

elderly are the weakening of family ties.

Besides that, the results of the study showed that

there were 36.7% of the answers of the elderly who

said that family support was instrumental less to

him. This is felt because the elderly have never been

visited regularly every month. The family visits him

if he has asked to be visited. Elderly said that his

family and relatives were always busy if asked to

come so that the elderly felt that he was undesirable.

From this incident the elderly become independent.

To meet personal needs in the nursing home, the

elderly conduct useful and productive activities such

as planting vegetables in the yard of their nursing

home. Ready to harvest vegetables will be sold to

the nursing home and surrounding communities.

Research conducted by Raymo et al (2010), in the

"Family Structure and Well-being at Older Ages in

Japan" which says that elderly parents consider the

presence and closeness between themselves and

children is not very important. Older parents say that

marriage is very important for their welfare,

especially for men. In addition, there were 23.3% of

the elderly who said that instrumental support from

the family was very good. This is said by the elderly

because the family visits him very often. Usually,

the family visits her once a week even more.

Families always leave provisions and money for

their elderly parents. Families always have time for

the elderly even though the elderly live in the home.

4 CONCLUSION

From the results of research conducted on 30 elderly

people in the Nursing Home in Medan City, it can be

concluded that the majority of elderly people have

hopes to gather with their families by 63.3%. The

majority of the elderly get family support related to

the award in the good category of 70%. And

emotional support related to the family is given to

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the elderly in a good category of 60%. Whereas the

majority of the elderly who received informational

family support in the adequate category of 40% and

family support related to instrumental to the elderly

were also in a sufficient category of 40%.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge that the present

research is supported by Ministry of Research and

Technology and Higher Education Republic of

Indonesia.

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