The study is particularly relevant as Indonesia is entering an aging society, characterized by a rapidly increasing proportion of elderly citizens. Yogyakarta is among the regions with the highest concentration of older adults. According to the data presented in the study, the city had approximately 64,267 elderly residents in 2024, representing 15.46 percent of its total population. This demographic shift indicates that older adults are no longer a small segment of society but a significant population group whose needs should become a priority in urban planning and public service delivery.
The researchers explain that population aging affects far more than healthcare services. Older adults also require safe transportation, accessible public spaces, affordable housing, social protection, effective communication, and opportunities to remain active in community life. Therefore, creating an age-friendly city involves integrating elderly-friendly policies across all sectors of urban development rather than focusing solely on health programs.
The Yogyakarta City Government has already introduced several initiatives to improve the well-being of older residents, including Elderly Integrated Health Service Posts (Posyandu Lansia), Social Service Centers for the Elderly, community health programs, and communication forums for senior citizens. These initiatives demonstrate the government's commitment to supporting healthy and active aging. However, the study finds that many of these programs continue to operate independently, with limited coordination among government agencies, resulting in fragmented public services.
To examine these challenges, the research employed a qualitative descriptive approach through conceptual analysis as part of a doctoral dissertation framework. The authors reviewed theories on public policy implementation, urban governance, collaborative governance, administrative ecology, and the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly City Framework. The broader research design also proposes a mixed-methods study involving approximately 200 elderly respondents and dozens of government officials, academics, community leaders, and elderly organizations in Yogyakarta to validate the conceptual framework.
The analysis identifies inclusive public services as a critical component in developing an age-friendly city.
The study highlights several major findings:
- the growing elderly population should become a central consideration in urban development policies;
- various elderly service programs already exist but remain fragmented across different sectors;
- stronger collaboration is needed among government agencies, elderly communities, universities, civil society organizations, and the private sector;
- older adults should be more actively involved in policy planning and service evaluation;
- Yogyakarta's cultural values—such as mutual cooperation, respect for older people, and community solidarity—represent valuable social capital that can strengthen modern public service systems.
According to the researchers, older adults should not be viewed merely as recipients of government assistance. Instead, they should become active participants in identifying community needs, shaping public policies, and evaluating service quality. Their life experiences and perspectives provide valuable insights for designing more responsive and inclusive public services.
The study also identifies the digital divide as an emerging challenge. As governments increasingly digitize public services, many elderly citizens face difficulties accessing online platforms due to limited digital literacy or technology access. Without adequate support, digital transformation may unintentionally create new forms of exclusion. Consequently, the researchers recommend that governments provide digital assistance programs, maintain alternative offline services, and design communication systems that are simple and accessible for older users.
According to Triyaka Lisdiyanta and colleagues from Muhammadiyah University of Jakarta, developing an age-friendly city requires a collaborative governance approach. Under this model, local governments work together with families, elderly organizations, healthcare volunteers, universities, civil society groups, and private sector partners. Such collaboration ensures that public services are designed not only from a bureaucratic perspective but also based on the real experiences and expectations of elderly citizens.
The researchers also adopt the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly City Framework, which outlines eight essential dimensions of an age-friendly city: accessible outdoor spaces, age-friendly transportation, suitable housing, opportunities for social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, effective communication and information, and integrated community support and healthcare services. The authors argue that these dimensions should be incorporated into Yogyakarta's urban development policies to enable older adults to live independently, safely, actively, and with dignity.
Based on their findings, the researchers recommend that the Yogyakarta City Government develop a comprehensive Age-Friendly City Roadmap involving all local government agencies. The roadmap should include measurable targets, clear institutional responsibilities, coordinated implementation strategies, and evaluation mechanisms based on the actual needs of elderly residents. The authors also encourage expanding partnerships with universities, community organizations, businesses, and local communities to strengthen digital literacy, healthcare services, elderly-friendly transportation, and neighborhood-based assessments of senior citizens' needs.
The study concludes that Yogyakarta has significant potential to become a national model for age-friendly urban development. Achieving this goal will depend not only on modernizing public services but also on integrating local cultural values such as mutual cooperation, family support, and social solidarity into urban governance. By combining these traditional values with collaborative policymaking and inclusive public services, the city can ensure that every older citizen enjoys equal opportunities to live a healthy, safe, active, and dignified life.
Author Profile
Triyaka Lisdiyanta is a researcher in the Doctoral Program in Public Administration at Muhammadiyah University of Jakarta. His research focuses on public service delivery, urban governance, public policy, and age-friendly city development. This study was co-authored with Prof. Dr. Rahmat Salam and Prof. Dr. Taufiqurokhman, senior academics at Muhammadiyah University of Jakarta specializing in public administration, governance, public policy, and public service innovation.
Research Source
Article Title: Inclusive Public Services in Elderly-Friendly City Governance in Yogyakarta
Authors: Triyaka Lisdiyanta, Rahmat Salam, Taufiqurokhman
Journal: International Journal of Applied and Scientific Research (IJASR), Volume 4, Issue 5, 2026
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