| Most studies on the elderly focus on negative aspects and how to assist the elderly in their old age, implying that they are a burden to family and society. This paper focuses on the positive characteristics of older persons, with special attention to female elderly. It looks at the enabling environment, examines older persons' efforts to empower themselves by setting up their own organizations, and surveys how they take care of their needs, keep healthy, trim and fit, and continue to be self-reliant and productive. As the author is most familiar with the situation in Indonesia, she focuses primarily on this country and, where relevant, include information on other countries in southeast and East Asia. |