Constructions of older people's identities in Indonesian regional ageing policies: the impacts on micro and macro experiences of ageing

Abstract

As Indonesia experiences rapid growth of the ageing population, the government's attention has turned to the wellbeing of older people. This study aims to review critically the construction of older people's identity and care within regional ageing policies in Indonesia. Working from a critical gerontology perspective, a critical discourse analysis of 16 regional ageing policies identified two constructions, labelled ‘material’ and ‘cultural’ ageing, which were used to position older people. The analysis showed that ‘material ageing’ positions older people at the intersection of ‘decline’ and ‘successful ageing’ discourses, while ‘cultural ageing’ positions older people's welfare at the intersection of ‘public responsibility’ and ‘family obligation’ discourses. These discursive constructions in the policy documents have both micro (interpersonal) and macro (structural) constructive effects. At the micro-level, the regional ageing policies stand at a crossroad between empowering and marginalising older people and their families. While the dominant discourse of ‘successful ageing’ encourages older people to be healthy, it marginalises those who do not, or cannot, meet its criteria, undermining a rehabilitative approach as a policy priority. In addition, the rights of the family are overlooked, despite being a pivotal element of cultural ageing. At the macro level, a moral dilemma appears in defining the public and private domains of older people's welfare. Eligibility requirements for state assistance (due to budgetary constraints) ensure that elder care is often relegated to the private sphere, without support. Recommendations for policy improvement are discussed, including the recognition of families’ rights and the importance of local cultural practices in providing care for older people.

Vulnerable, Heroic … or Invisible? Representations Versus Realities of Later Life in Indonesia

“…The view of old age as a period of material and practical dependence and vulnerability predates Covid and is embedded in Indonesian policy discourse and practice. This has been clearly articulated in a recent analysis of Indonesian ageing policies by Lestari and colleagues (2022), which highlights tensions between contrasting representations at the policy level—tensions which this article seeks to substantiate at the level of lived experiences. The authors identify, on the one hand, the inherent assumptions of decline and vulnerability in later life that prompt calls for support; for example, ‘Older people are a vulnerable group of people who are entitled to receive more treatment and protection due to their special condition’ (p. 10).…”

“…Older care-dependent people are missing not only from media representations but also from policies. In the previously cited discourse analysis, Lestari et al (2022) found a pervasive dichotomy between ‘success’ and ‘decline’ representations aligned with a dichotomy between ‘public responsibility’ and ‘familial obligation’. Significantly, for the category of ‘successful’ agers, public provision in the form of livelihood, education and health interventions was included in policies.…”

“…(We return to this alternative discourse in Section V.) The decline discourse is rendered benign in policy documents by emphasizing older people’s past contributions and their position as respected ‘role models’, ‘sources of wisdom’, people active in religion and spirituality. Their care and support are a cultural obligation that falls foremost on the family and community (Lestari et al, 2022).…”

“…The Indonesian of Ministry of Health has admitted that caregiving is still neglected in the national action plans on health and ageing. (Lestari et al, 2022: 16)…”

Communication Ecology Model of Successful Aging in Indonesian Context

“…From the Scopus database, 21 articles about communications and successful aging were published and indexed from 2015–2022. However, in the Indonesian context, the publications related to aging in 2022 were about health [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], quality of life [ 24 , 25 ], construction of policy [ 26 , 27 ], public bathroom design [ 28 ], macro-demographics [ 29 ], gross saving [ 30 ], somatosensory stimulation [ 31 ], intergenerational support [ 32 ], and pension [ 33 , 34 ]. As of 27 November 2022, there was no specific aging study from a communications perspective, especially from communications scholars.…”