Lentera Senja, short for Lansia Energik Sejahtera Sehat Sentosa Jiwa dan Raga (Energetic, Prosperous, Healthy, and Peaceful Older Adults in Body and Mind), is an initiative by the Center for Life-Span Development (CLSD) at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) that develops a support toolkit to help older adults enhance their understanding of psychological well-being. The program stems from Indonesia’s demographic reality: according to Statistics Indonesia (2023), the proportion of older adults has reached 11.56% and is projected to rise to 20% by 2045. Alongside increasing life expectancy, older adults face complex challenges such as declining physical and cognitive functioning, shrinking social networks, and heightened risks of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Existing services have tended to prioritize physical health, while psychological, social, and educational dimensions remain insufficiently integrated. This gap motivated the CLSD team to design a structured, user-friendly, evidence-informed toolkit that provides clear guidance for facilitators to strengthen older adults’ understanding of psychological well-being.
As a practical guide for facilitators and trainers, Lentera Senja combines psychoeducation with experiential learning. Rather than passively receiving information, older adults are engaged in activities, guided reflection, and everyday strategies through group discussions, active video watching, reflective writing assignments, and role-play. The materials cover self-understanding in later life, mental health, emotion regulation, positive communication, memory and cognitive maintenance, and meaning in life. This approach cultivates six widely recognized pillars of psychological well-being: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. The toolkit uses clear, accessible language, visuals, and worksheets, along with simple take-home tasks to support real-life application.
The development process began with a literature review and was translated into a systematic yet interactive learning design. A limited pilot was conducted with the Senior School BIAS community in the Special Region of Yogyakarta to ensure relevance, clarity, and impact on understanding. The evaluation process involved expert input, readability checks, and straightforward pre–post learning measurements. Through these steps, the research team ensured the toolkit is not only sound on paper but also effective in practice.
The initiative is led by Dr. Arum Febriani, S.Psi., M.A., together with Sutarimah Ampuni, S.Psi., M.Si., MPsych., Ph.D., Psychologist, and Dr. Nida Ul Hasanat, M.Si., Psychologist, supported by undergraduate and graduate students as well as unit assistants: Carissa Azarine Delicia, S.Psi.; Ni Nyoman Putri Pradnyandari, S.Psi.; Ulul Ilmi; Debrinna Tryanan Asmaradhani, S.Psi.; and I Marannu Andi Khalisha, S.Psi. This cross-role collaboration is designed to uphold implementation quality while strengthening the ecosystem of learning and community service at the Faculty of Psychology UGM.
At the individual level, the toolkit is expected to help older adults recognize their psychological needs, reduce loneliness, foster optimism, and stimulate cognitive functioning through tailored activities. At the community level, a standardized toolkit provides a solid foundation for facilitators to design learning that is consistent, engaging, easy to evaluate, and adaptable to local needs.
The program targets outputs including a deployable toolkit protected by intellectual property rights (IPR), a scientific publication in a nationally accredited Sinta-2 journal, and a popular article on the faculty website to broaden public reach, supported by funding from the Faculty of Psychology UGM Basic Research Grant, Fiscal Year 2025. Lentera Senja is also designed to be a replicable model across regions, enriching evidence-based and culturally relevant practices for supporting older adults. Through the synergy of scientific knowledge and meaningful learning experiences, this program reaffirms the commitment of the Faculty of Psychology UGM to delivering interventions that are human-centered, contextual, and impactful for the quality of life of older adults in Indonesia.
Writer: Raden Roro Anisa Anggi Dinda