Participation of the Elderly in Community Development

Abstract

This article aims to present the involvement in participation, important roles, and development of the elderly’s potential for community development. The results of the study concluded that elderly people were respected and admired. Therefore, the potential must be promoted to pass on local wisdom because most of the elderly in almost every area were important leaders of the community and role models to help build inner strength. Moreover, they built a community learning center as a local educational institution for arts and culture in various fields. They also helped promote the community’s economy and made the community realize the importance of knowledge transfer and the conservation of local wisdom. The participation of the elderly consisted of 1) mental roles, 2) economic roles, and 3) social roles. Overall, in community development, the elderly played such a major role in many areas as community philosophers, spiritual leaders, those who passed down experiences through art, culture, and tradition, the brains of the community, speakers, and community experts.