Facing Ageing Population, Ministry Encourages Elderly to Remain Productive
Indonesia is entering an ageing population phase, making the need for a social and economic environment that is friendly to the elderly increasingly important. The government is encouraging a paradigm shift so that the elderly are not only seen as recipients of assistance, but remain an active, healthy, independent group that plays a role in development.
Secretary of the Ministry of Population and Family Development and Principal Secretary of BKKBN Budi Setiyono said the change in demographic structure needs to be followed by policies that place the elderly as subjects of development. According to Budi, the elderly group has experience and contributions that can continue to be utilised in social life. Therefore, family and community development needs to provide an environment that allows the elderly to remain active and contribute according to their respective abilities.
This commitment is demonstrated through the involvement of dozens of elderly people as honoured guests in the 81st anniversary ceremony of Indonesian independence to be held at the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN office in East Jakarta on Monday (17/8/2026). The activity is part of the SIDAYA (Empowered Elderly) programme, which encourages the elderly to remain active and empowered in community life.
Budi said the involvement of the elderly in the independence moment also carries the meaning of honouring the generation that has contributed to the nation while strengthening intergenerational relations. ‘The involvement of the elderly in the sacred moment of independence has strategic meaning, namely giving respect to the seniors who throughout their lives have certainly contributed greatly to the nation and state,’ Budi said in a press release on Sunday (16/8/2026).
According to him, the presence of the elderly in the activity can also serve as a space to transmit experience and national values to the younger generation. ‘The presence of the nation’s elders at the ceremony ground is expected to become a historical bridge between generations to transfer the values of nationalism to the younger generation,’ Budi said.
According to Budi, the SIDAYA programme is directed at encouraging the elderly to remain healthy, independent and empowered so that they do not solely depend on family or government support. This paradigm shift is also related to Indonesia’s readiness to face the economic impact of the increasing number of elderly people. The need for health services, products, services, activity spaces, as well as employment and business opportunities for the elderly group has the potential to shape a silver economy.
Therefore, building an elderly-friendly ecosystem needs to involve the government, society and the private sector. An environment that supports elderly activity is one of the important factors so that increased life expectancy can be accompanied by a better quality of life.
In carrying out the ceremony, the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN prepared elderly-friendly facilities, including shaded areas, seating, special assistants, emergency medical facilities and ambulances. This step supports the creation of an environment that allows the elderly to remain involved in social activities safely and comfortably. In the long term, this approach is expected to support Indonesia’s readiness to face changes in population structure while opening space for the growth of the silver economy.