The Growing Elderly Population in Indonesia

The Growing Elderly Population in Indonesia

In 2018, out of a total of 24.5 million seniors in Indonesia, 9.28% lived alone and 19.93% lived only with their spouse. This trend is expected to keep rising as times change, with growing mobility among the working-age population meaning seniors are increasingly no longer living under the same roof as their children.

A person's lifestyle and daily needs continue to change as they approach old age. However, not everyone thinks through and plans their housing needs carefully. See also: Various Housing Alternatives for Seniors in Indonesia, which covers various housing options for seniors who don't live with their children, along with the considerations for each.

Indonesia's growing senior population has also driven greater demand for senior-friendly housing integrated with the services seniors need. RUKUN Senior Living, set in a scenic location in Sentul, is an option for those aged 50+ looking to meet their housing needs both now and in the future. With the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) concept, RUKUN offers a range of housing types and services tailored to each phase of a senior's life:

1. Private villas, for an independent, dynamic lifestyle.
2. Resort apartments, for an active daily life free from household responsibilities.
3. Senior Care facilities, for those who need special support in daily living.

The precinct is also equipped with communal facilities for residents' comfort, including gardens, a lake, a jogging track, a clubhouse, and an integrated activity program and wellness services. RUKUN is the first senior living community in Indonesia, and the only one offering a full CCRC concept while also being certified under the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System.

Creating a Safe Home for Seniors

As people age, various bodily functions decline, from eyesight and hearing to bone density and cognitive function. A safe home for seniors is essential to minimize the risk of injury and illness, making adjustments to a home's layout and design an important consideration for any family with a senior member.

RUKUN Senior Living, set in a scenic location in Sentul, is one option for seniors, offering every type of senior-friendly housing — private homes, resort apartments, and senior care — within a single precinct with fully integrated services (Continuing Care Retirement Community).

Maintaining Harmony When Living with Family

While Indonesian culture often views the ideal family structure as one where elderly parents live with their children, it's undeniable that this living arrangement isn't always comfortable or peaceful for everyone involved. Creating a conducive atmosphere for living together requires ongoing effort from both children and parents to maintain harmony at home.

Vera Itabiliana, a psychologist specializing in adolescents and families, notes that everyone needs to maintain their own boundaries while recognizing that, from time to time, those boundaries may overlap. The person who is "staying with" the other often ends up being the one who yields or stays passive, which is where emotional management comes into play — knowing how much to let go, and when it's necessary to reassert a boundary again. Above all, it's important to remember that everyone involved means well, and that care and affection for one another underlie every action.

If potential conflict persists and emotional management constantly has to be exercised to an excessive degree, living together under one roof may no longer be something worth forcing. The relationship between an adult child and their parent can sometimes actually grow stronger when moments spent together happen within a context that can be planned and managed. There are various reasons a senior or their child may feel the need to live together, such as loneliness or the need for assistance. In this context, seniors still have housing options that allow for a good relationship with their children even without sharing the same roof. See also: Various Housing Alternatives for Seniors in Indonesia.

Reunions as a Social Activity That Can Slow Dementia

Few of us don't enjoy catching up with old friends. Reunions are common, whether informal or formal — from small get-togethers with a few friends at a restaurant or café, to large events bringing together as many friends and colleagues as possible at a venue, complete with a full event schedule. Reunions also form around various types of groups, from schoolmates spanning elementary school through university, to organizations like Scouts, to former coworkers, to shared-hobby groups.

Beyond strengthening friendships and the fun that comes with these gatherings, psychologist Soraya Salim explains that the phenomenon of senior reunions can also help slow the onset of dementia, since social activity has a positive effect on slowing memory and brain function decline. Read more: The Senior Reunion Phenomenon and Slowing Dementia.

Given the many benefits of reunions, organizing and taking part in them is strongly encouraged for groups aged 50+. To make planning and running a reunion easier, many 50+ groups choose RUKUN Senior Living as their event venue.

As a senior-friendly resort in a comfortable location in Sentul, Bogor, RUKUN Senior Living understands seniors' various needs and offers comprehensive facilities and services. Amenities include hotel rooms, a ballroom, function rooms, a swimming pool, a fishing lake, outdoor gardens, a jogging track, audio/visual equipment, and decoration. Beyond banquet catering, additional services tailored specifically to senior groups are also available, including activity facilitators (for exercise sessions, games, and other fun activities), health seminar speakers, vital signs checks, a keyboardist for karaoke, and line dance sessions.

For further information, contact 021 8795 1525 or visit www.rukunseniorliving.com.