Not Just a Health Issue: Elderly Population Boom Becomes New Macroeconomic Challenge
Indonesia is facing a “Silent Crisis” or hidden crisis alongside rapid demographic transition. The elderly population in the country is projected to surge dramatically from 33.7 million people in 2023 to 52.7 million people in 2050, a phenomenon that could cripple the healthcare system and national economic stability.
This surge brings a heavy burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Riskesdas data shows that the prevalence of hypertension has reached 34.1%, compounded by challenges from type 2 diabetes and an estimated 1.2 million cases of dementia.
Fildzah Cindra Yunita from the Indonesia-NIHR Global Health Research Centre for NCDs and Environmental Change highlighted that one in four elderly people in Indonesia now lives with chronic illness.
“This is not just a health issue, but systemic pressure on families and the healthcare system. Many cases are detected late because our system remains largely reactive. We need community-based early detection and the use of digital technology for ongoing monitoring,” said Fildzah in her statement on Friday (27/3/2026).
This crisis is not merely medical, but a macroeconomic threat. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) research reveals that the caregiver crisis in the Asia-Pacific could jeopardise GDP by up to USD 250 billion in 2035.
In Indonesia, the phenomenon of employee-caregivers or workers doubling as carers for parents at home presents a unique challenge. Without systematic support, Indonesia risks an exodus of productive workers forced to leave the workforce to care for family, ultimately disrupting national productivity.
To address this challenge, the digital health platform Aurelif emerges as a pioneer in an integrated long-term care ecosystem. This platform, named “Innovation of 2025” by FKUI, develops AI- and data-based solutions to connect families, healthcare facilities, and the government.
Aurelif Director Najla Claryssa emphasised that the population ageing challenge is an infrastructure-scale issue. Currently, the family’s caregiving capacity ratio is declining due to economic pressures.
“We need to strengthen the system to keep pace with the rate of elderly population growth. Aurelif simplifies the operational burden on caregivers through features like automated assessments, daily task management, and intelligent emergency detection systems,” explained Najla.
She added that technology is present to restore the family’s focus to the most fundamental aspects, namely empathy and quality of life for parents, without getting bogged down in medical administrative confusion.
Ahead of its grand launch with the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Aurelif is opening early access for those in need through their official communication channels. Investment in caregiving technology is no longer an option, but a necessity to maintain Indonesia’s economic resilience and public health standards in the future.