Reaching a Record Low, Elderly Morbidity Rate Falls to 24.35% in 2020

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), in 2020 the morbidity rate among the elderly reached its lowest point in the last six years, at 24.35%. This figure indicates that approximately 24 out of 100 elderly individuals experienced illness in the past month.

Generally, the illnesses experienced by the elderly are non-communicable, degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, rheumatism, and injuries. These diseases are chronic and expensive to treat.

(Read More: [More Elderly People Use the Internet in Indonesia](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2021/07/13/makin-banyak-lansia-gunakan-internet-di-indonesia))

Awareness among the elderly regarding their health complaints is quite high. The majority of the elderly treat their health complaints by self-treating or seeking outpatient care (96.12%). However, about four out of 100 elderly individuals are reluctant to treat their health complaints.

This reluctance to seek treatment is more prevalent among the very elderly (80+) at 5.67% and elderly individuals with disabilities at 6.13%. A possible reason is a sense of hopelessness regarding their perceived ailments.

Therefore, government attention is needed regarding long-term care mechanisms that can accommodate the needs of the very elderly and elderly individuals with disabilities.