There is no professional training and qualification system specific for the national LTC workforce yet. In the LTC guideline for Puskesmas, certification or registration with a professional body is indicated for GPs, nurses, and other health care workers such as nutritionists or physiotherapists, but not for caregivers (Kementerian Kesehatan RI Direktorat Jenderal Kesehatan Masyarakat, 2018). Trainings aimed at volunteers (cadres) providing LTC services through the Posyandu Lansia have been done by local governments in collaboration with universities, such as in Malang and Depok (Kartika et al., 2019; Nugraha et al., 2019). There has been LTC training in Puskemas level too, such as in Sungailiat, Bangka District (Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Bangka, 2019). However, these initiatives seem to be at regional coordination level, and thus the training provision might not yet be standard nationally.

On the international level, professional training and qualification systems are managed by the National Agency for the Protection and Placement of International Migrant Workers (Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia or BNP2TKI for short). This international collaboration offers training and certification on certain skills. For example, an annual placement program between Indonesia and Japan provides both skills and language training for Indonesian nurses or people undertaking diplomas and bachelor’s degrees in nursing (BNP2TKI, 2011). The Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA), launched in 2008 (Ministry of Trade, 2018), established a system for ‘Indonesian health care workers to work as nurses and certified care workers in Japan’ (Nugraha et al., 2017, p.54). The length of training (6 months in Indonesia and 6 months in Japan) might not be sufficient, as it is heavily focused on nursing and language skills, while less on the use of technology and attitude in care service (Arianti, 2013).

Other sources of professional training for the LTC workforce are trainings held via third sector associations focusing on carers, people with dementia, or the provision of long-term care. Organisations providing training include Alzheimer Indonesia, Wulan 247, Indonesia Ramah Lansia or Yayasan Emong Lansia (Sabdono, 2015).

References:

Arianti, R. K. (2013). Pengaruh Profesionalisme, Pelatihan dan Motivasi terhadap Kinerja Nurse dan Caregiver Indonesia. MIX, III(2), 121–132.

BNP2TKI. (2011). Sejarah Penempatan TKI Hingga BNP2TKI. http://www.bnp2tki.go.id/frame/9003/Sejarah-Penempatan-TKI-Hingga-BNP2TKI

Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Bangka. (2019). Laporan Kegiatan Kesehatan Keluarga Pertemuan Perawatan Jangka Panjang (PJP Care Giver Lansia) Sungailiat 02 April 2019 http://dinkes.bangka.go.id/node/199

Kartika, A. W., Choiriyah, M., Kristianingrum, N. D., Noviyanti, L. W., & Fatma, E. P. L. (2019). Pelatihan Tugas Perawatan Kesehatan Keluarga Caregiver Lansia dalam Pogram RURAL (Rumah Ramah Lansia). Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (Indonesian Journal of Community Engagement), 5(3), 448. https://doi.org/10.22146/jpkm.45139

Kementerian Kesehatan RI Direktorat Jenderal Kesehatan Masyarakat. (2018). Pedoman untuk Puskesmas dalam Perawatan Jangka Panjang bagi Lanjut Usia. Kementerian Kesehatan RI.

Ministry of Trade. (2018). Fact Sheet Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA).

Nugraha, S., Agustin, D., Rahardjo, T. B. W., & Yuko, H. (2019). Pelatihan Bagi Kader Posbindu Tentang “Long Term Care” ( Perawatan Jangka Panjang ) Bagi Lanjut Usia Kota Depok. PAMAS, 3(2), 113–120.

Nugraha, S., Honda, S., & Hirano, Y. (2017). The change in mental health status of Indonesian health care migrant worker in Japan. Kesmas, 12(2), 53–89. https://doi.org/10.21109/kesmas.v0i0.1698

Sabdono, E. (2015). Commentary on Indonesia’s domain ranks in the 2015 Global AgeWatch Index.