Various Housing Alternatives for Seniors in Indonesia

Various Housing Alternatives for Seniors in Indonesia

A range of housing alternatives for seniors is now available in Indonesia. In Indonesia, it is fairly common for seniors above the age of 60 to live with their children. However, not everyone has children, some may have children living in a different city or country, or for various reasons a senior may not be able to live with their children. In such situations, a senior naturally needs an alternative housing solution.

This article discusses several housing alternatives that can be an option for seniors who do not live with their children, along with a discussion of a few key factors to consider for each.

Living Independently at Home

Many seniors live independently and choose to continue residing in their own household, whether in a house or an apartment. Particularly if still with a spouse, older couples often feel more comfortable staying in a home they have lived in for decades, one that reflects their personalities and is full of lifelong memories. Many widowed or single seniors also choose to live alone because they enjoy the comfort of their own home.

Factors to Consider:

• Physical Condition of the Home — Does the home's physical condition support residents' mobility and safety in the event of physical limitations arising with age? For example, differences in floor level between rooms requiring steps, slippery floor surfaces, adequate lighting, safe window types and positioning, adequate railings on terraces or balconies, and other senior-friendly design considerations.
• Household Maintenance and Management — Every household, whether a landed house or an apartment, requires daily maintenance and management, such as cleaning the house and yard, washing dishes and clothes, and paying various household bills. There are also various repairs that may arise, from replacing lightbulbs and dripping faucets to fixing a leaking roof. An ideal situation is one where the senior has a domestic helper or family members/relatives who can help with household management tasks when needed. Beyond the household work itself, a senior homeowner may also need to manage employment matters for domestic help, such as recruitment, salary, and other personnel-related matters.
• Socialization and an Active Life — Two important factors in maintaining physical and cognitive wellbeing in old age are meaningful activity and regular social interaction with others. Seniors living alone at home can experience isolation if they do not establish routine activities at home or opportunities to meet and interact with others outside the home.
• Security and Safety — Security and safety factors need to be considered, especially for someone living alone (without a spouse or domestic helper) or with others who have limited ability to attend to risk factors or emergencies. For example, what solutions are available if a senior living alone falls and is injured, experiences a medical event, forgets to turn off the stove, or faces other risky situations.
• Long-Term Suitability — Some of the factors above may be relevant in the short term. However, it is also useful for a senior to think about a housing solution that can accommodate their needs in the long term. For instance, physical ability inevitably declines with age, so it is worth observing whether the current home can, or can easily, meet needs that may arise later — for example, if care needs arise due to illness or cognitive decline such as dementia.

Co-Housing

Although fairly common as a housing alternative for seniors in Indonesia, the term "co-housing" is not yet widely used to describe a situation where a senior lives together with a friend or other acquaintance who is not their own child. This housemate is often another senior, but could also be someone younger. This lifestyle differs from living with a caregiver/companion or domestic helper, because in co-housing the relationship between residents is one of friends/peers, not employer and employee. Co-housing arrangements typically arise because the parties involved see benefits in living together, whether economic, social (companionship), or in mutual support with daily household tasks. The "kost" (boarding house) style of housing common in Indonesia also falls under the co-housing concept, and while more commonly associated with working-age individuals, it has increasingly become an option for seniors as well.

Factors to Consider:

• Physical Condition of the Home — As with living alone, the physical condition of the shared home needs to support residents' mobility and safety in the event of physical limitations arising with age.
• Household Maintenance and Management — As with living alone, co-housing still requires residents' involvement in managing the household. The difference is that responsibilities and various tasks can be shared among housemates.
• Socialization and an Active Life — The need for social interaction is generally better supported in a co-housing arrangement because seniors live together with others. It is even more ideal if the housemates share compatible interests and abilities that complement one another, allowing them to interact and engage in activities together optimally. However, maintaining an active life still remains the initiative and responsibility of each senior individually.
• Security and Safety — Private residences or general shared housing such as boarding houses are rarely designed specifically with seniors' needs in mind. Security and safety factors need to be considered, especially for someone who may experience limitations with age, including whether there are fellow residents or staff capable of handling risky or emergency situations if needed.
• Long-Term Suitability — As with living alone, it is worth considering whether the current housing can, or can easily, meet needs that may arise later.

Panti Werdha (Social Foundation or Government-Run Elderly Homes)

Panti werdha (often referred to as nursing homes for the elderly, or "panti jompo") are shared residential facilities for seniors managed by government bodies or private foundations. Currently, panti werdha are the most common form of shared senior housing in Indonesia. Depending on the facilities and room class available, a senior may rent a private bedroom, a shared room for two or more, or a ward-style room, and use communal facilities for daily activities such as a dining hall, activity area, and shared sitting room. Monthly fees generally include household services such as room cleaning, laundry, meal provision, as well as caregiver/companion services and other health support that a senior may need.

Factors to Consider:

• Socialization and an Active Life — Because it is a shared residence, social interaction needs are generally supported, as seniors are consistently surrounded by other residents and staff. Panti werdha are social facilities supported by government subsidies or private donors, donations, and volunteers, so the facilities and services available are generally quite modest, with the primary focus on meeting daily living needs. Coordinated activity programs are usually held periodically, perhaps weekly or monthly, depending on operational capacity.
• Security and Safety — Panti werdha are generally fairly safe places for seniors, as they have been specifically designed with seniors' needs in mind.
• Personal Privacy — Depending on the applicable rules and type of accommodation rented, there may be limits on personal privacy. For example, some facilities have set visiting hours, during which residents are not always free to receive guests or go out. Residents sharing a room with others generally cannot choose their roommate, and room usage is also limited to accommodate the comfort of other roommates.
• Use of Social Facilities/Subsidies — Panti werdha are established with subsidy or donation funds and are primarily intended as social facilities providing housing for seniors with limited alternative housing options. As such, panti werdha facilities are ideally used by seniors who genuinely face economic limitations, in line with their social purpose.
• Long-Term Suitability — Although panti werdha are specifically designed to accommodate seniors' needs, some can only serve seniors who are still fairly independent or have limited care needs. Only a few panti werdha are able to serve seniors with high support needs, such as those with dementia or other physical support requirements.

Hospitals

Everyone naturally understands the concept and function of a hospital as a place for treatment and medical care over a certain period, whether as an outpatient or inpatient. However, hospitals have also become one of the housing alternatives for seniors in Indonesia for those who require assistance with daily living.

Factors to Consider:

• Socialization and an Active Life — Because a hospital's primary focus is medical care and treatment, hospitals generally offer very limited opportunities for socializing and maintaining an active life. This is especially true because hospitals serve patients with a range of illnesses, so interaction between patients needs to be limited to control the spread of infection.
• Security and Safety — Hospitals are generally the most well-equipped facilities in terms of medical care sophistication for security and safety. However, because hospitals also serve a range of patients with illnesses, some of which may be contagious, staying in a hospital can pose other risks for those who do not require medical treatment.
• Personal Privacy — Hospitals generally have set visiting hours, during which residents are not always free to receive guests or go out. Because hospital operations must follow certain regulations as a healthcare facility, residents are also generally limited in how they can use their room, such as decorating it with personal items or bringing personal furniture.
• Use of Facilities — The primary purpose of a hospital is as a facility for treatment and recovery over a certain period, not as a long-term residence. As a result, its costs are generally the highest among all senior housing options, due to the extensive medical equipment involved, which represents a significant investment.

Nursing Homes

Several private nursing homes are now available in Indonesia that are specifically designed as residences for seniors who require additional support in daily living, whether due to declining physical or cognitive condition. As a residence with a specific level of care, nursing homes have various nursing staff, such as caregivers and nurses, who generally work under a doctor's supervision.

Factors to Consider:

• Security and Safety — The decision to move into a nursing home is generally made based on existing care needs, so the facilities and services provided are designed to support the security needs of seniors with special requirements.
• Socialization and an Active Life — Although it is a shared residential facility, each resident's condition may hinder their ability to initiate socialization and engage in active activities. Meanwhile, the availability of coordinated services and activity programs varies from one nursing home to another. When considering a nursing home as a housing option, it is important to look beyond care services alone. For example, facilities such as RUKUN Senior Care prioritize a routine daily activity program with a dedicated Activity team guiding a range of activities to optimize residents' daily lives, and offer a specific specialization in dementia support that is not available at every nursing home.
• Personal Privacy — At some nursing homes, residents sharing a room with others generally cannot choose their roommate. However, if a private room is available, residents can generally decorate the room or use personal furniture for added comfort.

Senior Living

A relatively new senior housing concept in Indonesia is the senior living facility. The term "senior living" covers commercial residential facilities that originate from the hospitality or property sectors, offering housing options in the form of apartments or individual homes (landed houses) specifically designed for seniors. Depending on the concept adopted by the operator, senior living units may be available for purchase or for rent.

Factors to Consider:

• Physical Condition of the Apartment/Home — Because they are specifically designed as housing for seniors, apartment or house units at senior living facilities are tailored to seniors' needs. For example, RUKUN Senior Living, which offers housing in the form of apartments and houses, ensures the use of non-slip flooring materials, safe window types and positioning, adequate railings on terraces or balconies, and the absence of floor level differences between rooms that would require steps.
• Household Maintenance and Management — Senior living apartments generally already include all household services, from house cleaning and laundry to meal provision. On the other hand, house units at senior living facilities are usually occupied by residents who still want a highly independent lifestyle, so household management services are not included in the monthly fee but are available as an optional add-on service if desired.
• Socialization and an Active Life — As a shared residential area, social interaction needs can be supported because seniors will easily meet other residents and staff. In addition, senior living facilities rooted in hospitality services generally provide additional entertainment services for residents in the form of coordinated daily activity programs. For example, the resort facility at RUKUN Senior Living, with its apartment-style housing, offers a daily activity schedule for residents and also organizes various other activities such as excursions, events, and entertainment such as live music. Because they are located within the same senior living precinct, residents living in house units can also enjoy the various activities and events available if they wish.
• Security and Safety — Senior living is a safe place for seniors because it has been specifically designed with their needs in mind, including the availability of caregiver support services (Assisted Living) for residents who require assistance with daily living activities, and the availability of an Emergency Call device monitored 24 hours a day by caregiver staff.
• Personal Privacy — Residents with a house within a senior living precinct have the same freedom as living in their own home, as long as they follow its intended purpose as senior housing. Residents living in an apartment unit at the resort facility have the freedom to come and go and receive guests at any time, much like staying at a hotel, and are also free to decorate, furnish, and use their apartment space with their own belongings and furniture.
• Long-Term Suitability — A comprehensive senior living facility will offer the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) concept, where every phase of a senior's life can be served within a single, integrated residential precinct and set of services. For example, at RUKUN Senior Living, seniors with an active and dynamic lifestyle can choose a house unit that supports a fully independent lifestyle, or make use of various services available, from house cleaning to in-home caregiver services. For seniors who are independent but want a lifestyle free from household management responsibilities, apartment options are available that already include all daily services, with caregiver assistance available if needed. And if a resident one day requires additional care or assistance due to physical or cognitive support needs, facilities and services are also available within the same precinct.

Read Also:
Cost of Living at RUKUN Senior Living
Senior Club

There are, of course, other housing alternatives that can be an option for seniors, such as living in a hotel or on a cruise ship, as is becoming increasingly common among seniors in Western countries. For now, however, the list above summarizes several housing alternatives that have become options for seniors in Indonesia who do not live with their children.