MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SURAKARTA – Indonesia is facing a rapidly aging population. This demographic shift presents significant challenges, particularly in ensuring the well-being of older adults. ‘Aisyiyah has emerged as a leading advocate for Indonesia’s elderly population. The organization is actively involved in providing essential services for senior citizens and advocating for policy changes that better address their needs.
Latifah Iskandar, Chairperson of ‘Aisyiyah, highlighted the organization’s unwavering commitment to serving the elderly. “Establishing social services specifically designed for the elderly, along with a dedication to developing innovative care solutions, is a core aspect of ‘Aisyiyah’s mission of universal humanitarian advocacy,” explained Latifah.
‘Aisyiyah’s efforts focus on providing critical support to elderly individuals facing poverty. These individuals often lack secure housing, adequate income, and access to quality care services. Tri Hastuti Nur Rochimah, who serves as both the Coordinator of ‘Aisyiyah INKLUSI Program and the General Secretary General of ‘Aisyiyah, emphasizes the urgency of addressing this issue. The rising number of elderly people, especially those living in poverty (nearly 40%), is a major challenge for ‘Aisyiyah. We believe that strengthening our social services for the elderly can be a key part of the solution in ensuring their well-being.
In addition to service provision, Tri also encourages ‘Aisyiyah members to actively advocate for the implementation of Presidential Regulation Number 88 of 2021. This regulation outlines the National Strategy for Elderly Affairs, a comprehensive framework designed to address the specific needs and challenges faced by Indonesia’s elderly population.
Tirta Suteja, Director of Poverty Alleviation and Empowerment at Bappenas (the National Development Planning Agency), shed light on the significant demographic shift occurring in Indonesia. He highlights that over 10% of the country’s population is currently 60 years of age or older, with the highest concentrations in Yogyakarta, East Java, Central Java, and West Java. Tirta predicts this trend to continue, with an estimated 15.45% of the population projected to be elderly by 2045.
Tirta outlines the challenges associated with this demographic shift. These challenges include ensuring adequate access to basic services, providing economic support, strengthening social welfare programs, and establishing robust elderly care systems. “As the elderly population grows, there is a critical need for comprehensive care services,” explained Tirta. “Currently, the majority of caregivers are family members, and women disproportionately shoulder the burden of caregiving responsibilities.”
To address these challenges, Bappenas has developed the Integrated Elderly Care System (LLT) in Indonesia. Pilot projects for this system have been launched in Bali and Yogyakarta. Tirta acknowledges that there is still much work to be done to fully implement the National Strategy for Elderly Affairs. A key area for improvement is strengthening the institutions involved in elderly care programs. This includes establishing accreditation systems for care facilities such as nursing homes, social welfare institutions, and daycare centers.
