Songkran Holiday Blues for the Elderly

[snoop1130]

An elderly woman sits along an alley in a low-income neighborhood in Bangkok on May 4, 2020. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP)

 

Songkran is the Thai New Year holiday that many Thais look forward to spending a week-long off from work and being with their loved ones, especially Thai elders that wait for their children and grandkids to show up on their doorstep.

 

Traditionally, besides family reunion, Thais would also take this opportunity to make merits at the temple, and to pay respect to the elders with a ritual Thais called ‘Rod Nam Dum Hua’ where young family members would pour water on the elder’s hands and receive their blessing.

 

But Songkran this year, our seniors won’t be seeing their loved ones without being put at risk of COVID-19, the pandemic that has been crushing our holiday spirits for 2 Songkrans straight. 

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-holiday-blues-for-the-elderly/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-04-12

 

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[internationalism]

there are another 350 days, beside songkran, new year, when families can meet.

Many young people lost their jobs during the first wave and moved to home villages.

The same faith will happen shortly after songkran, with lock down measures, shop closures and another wave of unemployment. 

still, in thailand many households are multigenerational, elderly are active economically because there is no social security and pensions, so social problem of isolation affects them less, than in more developed industrially countries.

 

[RichardColeman]

I wonder if the authorities will be patting themselves on the back for low levels of road DUI deaths and a job well done, simply because Thais are not travelling in the same numbers as in recent years.

 

I feel a nice pool bonus coming on for those involved.

[internationalism]

there were severe restrictions during the first and the second wave, so in face of the more dangerous the UK mutation there would be stronger and stringent conditions. Very few elderly died, it was rather younger generations, who committed suicides.  

There was not a radical change in december policies, that except keeping together positive and negative burmese workers in dormitories and markers turned field hospitals.

It was too late to cancel new year and too late to cancel songkran. The majority went with their plans, visited parents and families.

Previously daily infections were low (during the 1st below 100, 2nd over 100), now expected to jump by 100x and last for longer, probably around 3 months. There would be many seniors dead, the price to be paid for keeping traditions alive.

That's why home quarantine is mulled and why field hospitals are being organised in the whole country.

There was an overreaction during the first wave (closed parks, national parks, beaches, as well as airports, railway, buses), so in december it was adjusted.

but the 3rd wave will force provincial governors to act beyond the central government liberal orders

 

[Scott]

Inflammatory post reported and removed. 

 

[worrab]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I wonder if the authorities will be patting themselves on the back for low levels of road DUI deaths and a job well done, simply because Thais are not travelling in the same numbers as in recent years.

 

I feel a nice pool bonus coming on for those involved.

I would not agree with this statement as I have never seen as much traffic as there was on the road from Bang Saphan heading south. Nose to tail all the way.  It was absolutely manic on the Saturday just gone and carried on into Sunday. Then they reported going North out of Bangkok was just as bad as usual. They are travelling big time. ! 

[Cake Monster]

I know of Elderly people upcountry that have been dreading the arrival of Family members from BKK.

Citing the latest outbreak of covid the Elderly are saying " why do they put at risk if they Love us so much "

 

Edited April 13, 2021 by Cake Monster