<![CDATA[This study examines the socio-legal implementation of elderly protection through the LANTERA (Layanan Lansia Tangguh dan Sejahtera-Resilient and Prosperous Elderly Services) model in Bandung Regency, focusing on how culturally grounded communication and hybrid service arrangements translate formal legal rights into accessible, participatory, and dignified service experiences. The study addresses the ongoing gap between legal guarantees for older persons and their practical realization in local public service settings. A socio-legal convergent parallel mixed-methods design combined normative analysis of national and regional legal frameworks with empirical data from 113 older respondents in three villages in Kecamatan Paseh, Bandung Regency. Data were collected through questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and documentation review, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, thematic and content analysis, and a socio-legal compliance matrix. The findings show that accessibility, participation, dignity, and welfare support were partially operationalized and most evident in community-based assistance, culturally familiar verbal and nonverbal communication, and respectful interpersonal interaction. Sundanese language, storytelling, gestures, attentive listening, and patient interaction were associated with more understandable, familiar, and respectful service encounters. However, complaint handling, service continuity, formalization of assisted access, and independent digital access remained less developed. These weaknesses reflected different implementation, institutional, service design, developmental, and possibly regulatory-specificity gaps rather than a single regulatory deficiency. The findings imply that policy responses should be differentiated: service procedures and complaint mechanisms should address implementation gaps; institutional strengthening should support continuity; assisted hybrid service design and usability testing should address digital access limitations; and additional local regulation should be considered only where systematic normative review demonstrates a genuine regulatory need. The study offers an original socio-legal explanation of how culturally accommodative communication can mediate the practical realization of elderly rights, while remaining dependent on adequate institutional and technological support.]]>
