Age-Friendly Infrastructure is Key to Improving Healthy Life Expectancy

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Developing age-friendly public infrastructure that supports mobility and preventive healthcare services is a critical long-term investment to extend Indonesia's Health Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE). The state's healthy life expectancy currently plateaus at approximately 60.7 years.

The Director of Health Services for Vulnerable Groups at the Ministry of Health, Imran Pambudi, pointed out a troubling gap in national longevity metrics. While Indonesia's overall life expectancy has successfully reached 74.15 years, the actual healthy lifespan (HALE) sits lagging at just 60.7 years.

"Data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) shows that the prevalence of dependency among people aged 60 and over increases with age, with approximately 5 percent of seniors experiencing mild, moderate, severe, or total dependency," Imran Pambudi stated in Jakarta on Friday, May 29, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Data compiled from national health screenings highlights the physical challenges facing Indonesia's senior citizens. Results from the 2025 Free Health Check (CKG) program revealed a high prevalence of health disorders among older demographics, with mobility limitations emerging as the most dominant issue. Specifically, approximately 64.6 percent of all screened elderly citizens suffered from restricted physical mobility.

Imran explained that Indonesia has formally entered an aging population era, where the percentage of senior citizens expands continuously as a byproduct of successful state development in public health and welfare.

Because of this demographic shift, the government is completely overhauling its healthcare philosophy to address the needs of an aging population. Regarding the process of redefining success, the benchmark for a long life has shifted entirely away from cosmetic youthfulness toward fundamental body functionality.

Furthermore, highlighting the power of functionality, human strength, mobility, physical balance, and mental acuity have become the newly valued metrics of healthy aging, effectively displacing superficial indicators like unwrinkled skin or scale weight. Finally, in terms of actively promoting healthy aging, the state's ultimate goal is to ensure that senior citizens maintain high functional capacities, thereby allowing them to optimally carry out daily routines and actively participate in local social life.

"Therefore, the concept of healthy aging is very important, namely ensuring that the elderly maintain functional abilities so they can live their daily lives optimally and continue to participate in social life," Imran elaborated.

To match this paradigm shift, the Ministry of Health emphasized that investing in strength, sleep quality, proper nutrition, and supportive external environments is the absolute best strategy to secure a dignified and independent future for the aging population.

The ministry calls for the immediate creation of barrier-free access, safe walking surfaces, and public spaces specifically designed to stimulate functional movement.

"Unhindered access, safe surfaces, and public spaces that encourage functional activities. Incentives for preventive services proven to extend healthspan are also strategic steps with social and economic value," Imran concluded. ***