AI Chatbot: Against Loneliness and Grey Digital Divide in Elderly
As human beings, the elderly require social interaction just like anyone else. Studies conducted by Sanjaya and Rusdi (2012), Amalia (2013), and Nuraini et al. (2018) have shown that social interaction can reduce loneliness in older adults. Unfortunately, many older adults experience social exclusion, leading to a lack of social participation and isolation, as Balard et al. (2019) noted. This social exclusion directly impacts senior’s mental health, leading to loneliness, a global problem that can result in depression and suicide. According to the Ministry of Health (2013), only 16% of older adults in Indonesia do not experience loneliness. The remaining 69% are mildly lonely, 11% are moderately lonely, and 2% are severely lonely. It is concerning that in 2045, Indonesia is predicted to experience a surge in the number of older adults, with one in five people over 60 years old (Harsono, 2022). Furthermore, access to mental health services is costly and focuses primarily on physical needs (Ryu et al., 2020).
