Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita was quick to clarify that the move was not based on the government’s limited budget for providing basic services to the elderly.

The latest Health Ministry data showed that the average life expectancy for Indonesian women was 74 years and 69 years for men.

Law No. 13/1998 on senior citizens stipulates that a senior citizen is any person aged 60 and older.

The United Nations carries the same definition, while some developed nations use 65 and above.

“The ages of 60 and 65 are often used, despite their arbitrary nature, for which the origins and surrounding debates can be followed from the end of the 1800s through the mid-1900s,” reads a 2002 paper on the UN’s website.

Agus said that during National Senior Citizen Day in Bandung, West Java, many 60-year-olds were visibly productive.

“We also often find those who are over 60 to be very productive, and even in some cases, more creative and innovative compared to those who are not in the senior citizen category,” Agus said.

He added that only 2.5 million senior citizens currently received social benefits from the government, including cash aid and subsidized retirement homes. The figure represents about 10 percent of Indonesia’s total population of senior citizens.

“Our fiscal power only extends so far. Therefore, we hope further aid can come not only from the central government but also from regional governments and NGOs.”

According to a 2000 census, senior citizens made up of 7.18 percent of the population. The figure increased to 8.5 percent in 2005, then to 9.87 percent in 2010 and 9.29 percent in 2018, or equal to 24.4 million people.

“We predict it will reach 11.3 percent by 2020,” Agus said.

The increase, he said, posed a challenge for the government to provide senior citizens with basic services. It also reduces the number of taxpayers.

Meanwhile, the government also has to face the challenge of keeping senior citizens from living in poverty, being neglected and experiencing a decrease in income, productivity and their social life.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data from 2018 shows that 22 percent of senior citizens are illiterate.

“Also, a third of senior citizens are disabled. Financially, 40 percent of them are part of low-income families and 78 percent are being financially supported by family members. Also, 50 percent of them live as low-income farmers,” Agus said.

The try and improve the situation, the Social Affairs Ministry has provided more subsidies to families with senior citizens under the Family Hope Program (KHP).

“Beneficiaries are obliged to take care of the seniors and bring them back home or take them to daycare or home care centers to be given proper care. Otherwise [the subsidy] will be revoked,” Agus said.

To respond to these challenges, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said West Java would adopt the Senior Citizen Sunday Program he implemented in Bandung during his time in the mayor’s office. The program includes recreational activities for seniors that includes providing them with company for conversations, as well as food subsidies.

“We also initiated a productive program so that the elderly can go back to the school to teach. Their knowledge can be transferred to the next generation,” Ridwan said.

Senior Citizen Foundation head Nu’man Abdul Hakim said the group had worked with the West Java administration to develop a regulation to support senior citizens’ needs, such as better access to buildings for senior citizens.

“Also, pedestrian access for seniors is important. [We also plan to offer] discounts for tickets to public facilities,” Nu’man said.

The foundation will work with academics from Padjadjaran University for the recommendation, which is expected to be ready this year.

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