Thailand's Elderly Population In Crisis

[george]

Thailand's elderly population in crisis

BANGKOK: -- The number of elderly people in Thailand being left to live alone has almost doubled in recent years, while 61 percent of old people have no income and a proportion receive no welfare benefits from the state, according to a shocking new report published by the National Statistical Office (NSO) today.

The report, based on surveys carried out in 1994, 2002 and 2004, shows that the percentage of elderly people living alone leapt from 3.6 percent in 1994 to 7.4 percent 10 years later, with significantly more women living alone than men.

The report also found that 61.6 percent of elderly people have no income from employment, while those who worked generally do so in the agricultural sector.

But even those in work receive little money, with monthly incomes falling to an average of Bt3,100 for those living alone.

Significantly, 66.3 percent of respondents said that they had problems living alone, with 31.6 percent citing the lack of people to look after them and 20.8 percent speaking of loneliness.

Pointing to an increase in life expectancy from 64 years to 75 for women, and from 58 years to 68 to men over the period of the survey, the report predicts an increasingly ageing population, with average life expectancies hitting 78 and 71 years for women and men respectively next year.

However, the report notes that this increase in life expectancy comes at the cost of poor health, with one in three elderly people reporting feeling ill in the month prior to being interviewed for the survey.

Nearly 52 percent of respondents reported chronic health conditions, rising to 62.9 percent among people living alone.

However, a small but significant proportion of elderly people - 3.8 percent - do not receive any form of welfare or medical benefits from the state, and the report admits that this could pose problems in the future.

The report calls on the government to campaign for families and communities to look after their elderly members in order that Thailand's ageing population can enjoy a good quality of life.

--TNA 2005-04-29

[sonthaya]

Thailand's elderly population in crisis 

BANGKOK: -- The number of elderly people in Thailand being left to live alone has almost doubled in recent years, while 61 percent of old people have no income and a proportion receive no welfare benefits from the state, according to a shocking new report published by the National Statistical Office (NSO) today.

The report, based on surveys carried out in 1994, 2002 and 2004, shows that the percentage of elderly people living alone leapt from 3.6 percent in 1994 to 7.4 percent 10 years later, with significantly more women living alone than men.

The report also found that 61.6 percent of elderly people have no income from employment, while those who worked generally do so in the agricultural sector. 

But even those in work receive little money, with monthly incomes falling to an average of Bt3,100 for those living alone.

Significantly, 66.3 percent of respondents said that they had problems living alone, with 31.6 percent citing the lack of people to look after them and 20.8 percent speaking of loneliness.

Pointing to an increase in life expectancy from 64 years to 75 for women, and from 58 years to 68 to men over the period of the survey, the report predicts an increasingly ageing population, with average life expectancies hitting 78 and 71 years for women and men respectively next year.

However, the report notes that this increase in life expectancy comes at the cost of poor health, with one in three elderly people reporting feeling ill in the month prior to being interviewed for the survey.

Nearly 52 percent of respondents reported chronic health conditions, rising to 62.9 percent among people living alone.

However, a small but significant proportion of elderly people - 3.8 percent - do not receive any form of welfare or medical benefits from the state, and the report admits that this could pose problems in the future.

The report calls on the government to campaign for families and communities to look after their elderly members in order that Thailand's ageing population can enjoy a good quality of life.

--TNA 2005-04-29

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was told that in Thailand the grown up children would look after their aging parents and supply money for them, I guess that's not the case ?

[Mr Red]

This report seems to go against the cultural grain ... sad that Thailand may be adopting the attitude toward the elderly that America did a long time ago. This respect for the elderly and family values is one of the primary reasons I feel so strongly about coming back to Thailand.

[jayenram]

The report calls on the government to campaign for families and communities to look after their elderly members in order that Thailand's ageing population can enjoy a good quality of life.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hear, hear!

[terdsak_12]

Where's Taksin's million when you need them.

[Dove]

Thailand's elderly population in crisis 

BANGKOK: -- The number of elderly people in Thailand being left to live alone has almost doubled in recent years, while 61 percent of old people have no income and a proportion receive no welfare benefits from the state, according to a shocking new report published by the National Statistical Office (NSO) today.

The report, based on surveys carried out in 1994, 2002 and 2004, shows that the percentage of elderly people living alone leapt from 3.6 percent in 1994 to 7.4 percent 10 years later, with significantly more women living alone than men.

The report also found that 61.6 percent of elderly people have no income from employment, while those who worked generally do so in the agricultural sector. 

But even those in work receive little money, with monthly incomes falling to an average of Bt3,100 for those living alone.

Significantly, 66.3 percent of respondents said that they had problems living alone, with 31.6 percent citing the lack of people to look after them and 20.8 percent speaking of loneliness.

Pointing to an increase in life expectancy from 64 years to 75 for women, and from 58 years to 68 to men over the period of the survey, the report predicts an increasingly ageing population, with average life expectancies hitting 78 and 71 years for women and men respectively next year.

However, the report notes that this increase in life expectancy comes at the cost of poor health, with one in three elderly people reporting feeling ill in the month prior to being interviewed for the survey.

Nearly 52 percent of respondents reported chronic health conditions, rising to 62.9 percent among people living alone.

However, a small but significant proportion of elderly people - 3.8 percent - do not receive any form of welfare or medical benefits from the state, and the report admits that this could pose problems in the future.

The report calls on the government to campaign for families and communities to look after their elderly members in order that Thailand's ageing population can enjoy a good quality of life.

--TNA 2005-04-29

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was told that in Thailand the grown up children would look after their aging parents and supply money for them, I guess that's not the case ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Problem is that yhere are many Thais that are not married. So they don't have children. This problem will worsen in the next 10 years as the number of singles become senior citizens and are not finacially dependent. many tody think that this not a problem as they intend to retire as monks or nuns.

Guess the government best beware of a potential burden to the state.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Where's Taksin's million when you need them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Prolly still in the maids name

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Where's Taksin's million when you need them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Jai Dee]

The report calls on the government to campaign for families and communities to look after their elderly members in order that Thailand's ageing population can enjoy a good quality of life.

What a p1ss poor attitude... the report should call on the government to provide support for the elderly, not the community.

[Heng]

Thailand's elderly population in crisis 

BANGKOK: -- The number of elderly people in Thailand being left to live alone has almost doubled in recent years, while 61 percent of old people have no income and a proportion receive no welfare benefits from the state, according to a shocking new report published by the National Statistical Office (NSO) today.

The report, based on surveys carried out in 1994, 2002 and 2004, shows that the percentage of elderly people living alone leapt from 3.6 percent in 1994 to 7.4 percent 10 years later, with significantly more women living alone than men.

The report also found that 61.6 percent of elderly people have no income from employment, while those who worked generally do so in the agricultural sector. 

But even those in work receive little money, with monthly incomes falling to an average of Bt3,100 for those living alone.

My grandparents live alone (about 300 meters from my house) and are unemployed as well (and I don't think the avg. old person is willing to share information with a complete stranger regarding their life savings and investments). If a survery taker happened by, I suppose they'd fall into that 61% as well. If anything I think families are as big as ever... far too many people to fit under the same roof. It doesn't mean they aren't cohesive units, caring/looking out for one another.