Increasing Social Relations Quality by Socioemotional Selectivity of Elderly at PERWAJAS Community

The elderly is a critical, transitional, and regressive period which is marked by a setback to the physical, mental, and intellectual ability. These symptoms cause the elderly to have difficulties in understanding and interacting with people, but the elderly migrants from the West Kalimantan Jamthang and Asin Residents Association (PERWAJAS) community can show a contrasting reality from the existing stigma. PERWAJAS is a community of immigrants living in West Kalimantan who have entered the early and late stages of the elderly. Negative stigma about the elderly that has been circulating in the community seems to contradict the reality drawn through the activities and work programs of the PERWAJAS community. This qualitative study uses an interpretive approach and is implementing the socioemotional selectivity theory. The results of this study found that communication has a vital role in the PERWAJAS community amid physical and mental deterioration. However, they can adapt to their condition to produce the potential to develop skills, productivity, and improve the quality of social relations.