Academics call for more measures to cope with ageing society

[webfact]

Academics call for more measures to cope with ageing society

By THE NATION

 

 

TO BETTER cope with the ageing Thai society, Bangkok-based academics have urged the government to adjust land use and city planning laws to let agricultural areas with high potential become residential zones for seniors.

 

They also urged tax incentives for private operators of nursing homes catering to elderly Thais with no relatives as well as foreign retirees, with the latter group also helping boost the country’s income.

 

The concept of “Ageing in Place” – the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level – is most appropriate for use in the context of the ageing Thai society, said Antika Sawadsri, head of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang’s Inclusive Designed Environment and Research Centre. 

 

 

Antika said the modern era enabled younger generations to care for their elderly relatives using advanced technologies such as Internet-connected CCTV feeds linked to smartphones and an elderly persons’ fall surveillance system. Having the seniors staying in their familiar environment and community was better for their mental health, she said.

 

Home modification, which may cost about Bt100,000-Bt200,000 for each house, would be required for fall-proof bathrooms, more ramps, relocation of the elderly persons’ bedroom on the ground floor, or installation of an elevator or platform lift. The Social Development and Human Security Ministry subsidy of Bt20,000 for each house with an elderly person was not enough. She suggested low-interest loans from public banks as a solution.

 

Meanwhile communities should provide additional facilities such as common areas for the seniors’ meeting/activities, seating every 200 metres, wider and declustered footpaths, low-floor buses, and malls having wheelchair for customers’ use within premises. Such changes have been made in Japan – a good model for ageing society infrastructure, Antika added.

 

In a separate development to prepare for the ageing society, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation earlier this month signed a memorandum of understanding with five universities for setting up the Universal Design Centre (UDC).

 

The central office has already been opened at Chulalongkorn University to provide counselling for home modifications and designs to accommodate elderly residents.

 

The four other institutes are Chiang Mai University, Thammasat University, Maha Sarakham University and Prince of Songkhla University, each of which would establish a UDC regional branch office by August.

 

 

The move followed a report that an average of three senior persons died per day due to falls. Nearly 1,000 elderly died from complications caused by falling in 2014 and another 2014 survey said that only 24.6 per cent of the country’s houses with elderly residents had made proper home modifications. 

 

Thailand is on the way to become a fully ageing society in three years, with 20 per cent of the population being those above age 60.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30343099

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-13

[poanoi]

good idea, just remember to increase retirement age also,

lest you want to succumb to expenses like west is currently doing

[nausea]

51 minutes ago, poanoi said:

good idea, just remember to increase retirement age also,

lest you want to succumb to expenses like west is currently doing

To be perfectly brutal, your retirement age should be your genetic sell by date. The whole idea is to support the frail and weak, not finance some "Golden Age". If you're enjoying a golden age you're probably quite capable of holding down a job. Society can only support a limited number of parasites.

 

[onera1961]

48 minutes ago, nausea said:

The whole idea is to support the frail and weak, not finance some "Golden Age". If you're enjoying a golden age you're probably quite capable of holding down a job. Society can only support a limited number of parasites.

<deleted>? 401K and SS is my money. I have contributed that money. Not asking anything from Society. Human are not born to work till death so that corporate top brasses can get their million dollar stock options and retirement packages.

 

Edited April 12, 2018 by onera1961

[Expatthailover]

42 minutes ago, nausea said:

To be perfectly brutal, your retirement age should be your genetic sell by date. The whole idea is to support the frail and weak, not finance some "Golden Age". If you're enjoying a golden age you're probably quite capable of holding down a job. Society can only support a limited number of parasites.

 

Genetic sell by date.

Parasites 

Ye gods to think our paremts and grandparents dought world wars only to spawn those with views like that.

Charming

[nausea]

36 minutes ago, Expatthailover said:

Genetic sell by date.

Parasites 

Ye gods to think our paremts and grandparents dought world wars only to spawn those with views like that.

Charming

I have nothing but respect for those who fought in WW1 and WW2, and they certainly weren't thinking about pension benefits or health care when they were conscipted or joined up. And how many of the Golden Age retirees fought in WW1 and WW2?  The bunch we have nowadays are mostly time servers I would imagine. As older, mostly able, people they should be ashamed for exploiting the system. Conflating these time servers with young men following an ideal is wrong.

Edited April 13, 2018 by nausea
More info.

[mok199]

with this toxic air ,they might want to take into account the increase in respiratory issues..

[RichardColeman]

_{Picture shows a house surrounded by roads. Do they really think the Thai car-driver ego will allow old people to cross them ?} 

 

 

[metisdead]

An offensive troll post has been removed. 

[bluesofa]

28 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

_{Picture shows a house surrounded by roads. Do they really think the Thai car-driver ego will allow old
people to cross them ?} 

 

Ha ha yes! Perhaps they are access pathways within the residential zone.

 

Having said that, there could be crumblies driving mobility scooters along them, but the pedestrians crossing would be considerably slower too, so you might well have the same situation, but in slow motion!

 

[Lupatria]

Aging society? Order Songkran to be held quarterly every year- problem solved.

[heybuz]

10 hours ago, nausea said:

To be perfectly brutal, your retirement age should be your genetic sell by date. The whole idea is to support the frail and weak, not finance some "Golden Age". If you're enjoying a golden age you're probably quite capable of holding down a job. Society can only support a limited number of parasites.

 

Not all were shiney <deleted> some swung a pick and shovel for a living when I see you at age 70 doing likewise for 8hrs a day I will agree with you.

[Stargeezr]

Yup the new me me and live with the parents and use their money, no respect

Generation,  has  spoken.

Geezer