The results of Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) in 2018 show that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) has when compared to the results in 2013, including cancer, stroke, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. NCDs are diseases that can appear asymptomatic, often with no specific clinical signs. This makes most people unaware of the potential dangers.
As people age, the physiological functions of the body will decrease due to the aging process and increase the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Seeing this condition, Physiotherapy Study Program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI) held a community service activity entitled “Improving the Quality of Life of the Elderly by Utilizing the Integrated Development Post for Non-Communicable Diseases” on Panggang Island, Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu), on 19-20 August 2022.
The head of the service team Mita Noviana, S.Ft., Physio., M.Kes., said that with this activity, it is hoped that the community will be able to understand better how to prevent, treat, and detect diseases early through basic examinations. “Collaboration between the community and universities, especially UI, through the role of academics who are concerned about the health of the elderly in the field of physiotherapy, is very helpful in creating healthy aging populations,” said Mita.
Community service activities include health counseling on the prevention of non-communicable diseases to cadres, elderly people, and the community to conduct early detection of non-communicable diseases in order to create the concept ofhealthy aging of the elderly. Free physical examinations in an effort to prevent non-communicable diseases were also provided in the activity.
“Physical examination carried out on the elderly is an initial stage to carry out the prevention process of NCD. The data from this examination will be collected and will be used as the basis for carrying out a more specific physical activity program or exercise therapy,” said Riza Pahlawi, Str.Ftr., M.Kes., one of the service teams.
In addition, the team also provided physiotherapy medical consultation services and trained cadres to do healthy exercises as an effort to prevent non-communicable diseases. Direct intervention is also provided to local residents, especially the elderly, with complaints of pain and health problems.
“This activity is the first time involving the elderly directly to find out their illness. I also hope that activities like this can continue to be carried out in the future and be sustainable,” said Ramsyiati (65), a resident of Panggang Island who participated in the activity.
