Or they could implement an old age pension system so that 70 and 80 year olds who havent received all the benefits of a government job, dont have to work. But thats right, these people havent learnt to vote for the right side yet, so why would the self elected bother!

They already have a pension system for every Thai over age 65.

It's not much at 500bht a month, but you can live on the farm for that.

Do you really believe that people can live, eat 2 or 3 times a day, pay for electricity, get to a hospital or doctor and get essential medicines to keep them alive etc and anything else they need on less than 17 baht per day?

What kind of a world do live in to believe that?

Can they do it for USD17 in the States, or the equivalent in the EU?

I have no idea as I am from the UK but the state pension is higher there and there are extra allowances that the elderly can claim. There are still many elderly people in the UK who are forced to choose between eating and keeping warm in winter.

Seems to be one member here, who knows everything about being old, retired, and being a loser because of that.

He also knows how to live modesty on a farm, and at the same time claims he is well off and could retire in his 40s.

Funnily enough, this member also seems to be living in his own little world.

In Thailand the elderly are take care of by the family not the state, It is a cultural thing

Thailand like many other countries is subjected to western cultural influences and the above described cultural dynamic is under a lot of pressure.

If this trend is to continue, and I believe it will, cultural and governing adjustments need to be made.

Laws need to enacted to reverse age discrimination. and a safety net for the elderly deeds to be created.

It is as simple as that

Seems to be one member here, who knows everything about being old, retired, and being a loser because of that.

He also knows how to live modesty on a farm, and at the same time claims he is well off and could retire in his 40s.

Funnily enough, this member also seems to be living in his own little world.

he did not hit the health care aspect logic.... if you get cancer it means you did not have your spinach..

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

First of all, stop trolling. It will get you into difficulty. One post has been removed along with replies.

Men, in particular, have a more difficult time with retirement. You might want to read up on what happens to men when they retire, especially if they retire early. Men have a tendency to die at a rather high frequency after retiring. Here's one link:

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20051020/early-retirement-early-death

Men are less likely than women to maintain social contacts outside of the work environment than women. Women usually have social networks. Men have work-mates and colleagues. When men quit working, they quite frequently have no or a very limited social network.

And in Thailand the birth rate has dropped drastically, so the idea that the younger generation is going to care for aging parents isn't feasible.

A lady I worked with for a number of years who was in an Administrative position in an educational institution, but was also a registered nurse, recently quit to open a home for the elderly in an up-country province.

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

First of all, stop trolling. It will get you into difficulty. One post has been removed along with replies.

Men, in particular, have a more difficult time with retirement. You might want to read up on what happens to men when they retire, especially if they retire early. Men have a tendency to die at a rather high frequency after retiring. Here's one link:

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20051020/early-retirement-early-death

Men are less likely than women to maintain social contacts outside of the work environment than women. Women usually have social networks. Men have work-mates and colleagues. When men quit working, they quite frequently have no or a very limited social network.

And in Thailand the birth rate has dropped drastically, so the idea that the younger generation is going to care for aging parents isn't feasible.

A lady I worked with for a number of years who was in an Administrative position in an educational institution, but was also a registered nurse, recently quit to open a home for the elderly in an up-country province.

It is funny that you would say that, and it is absolutely true

I have no friends outside my industry, I love these people and they love me, If I retire I will loose all that love and comradery.

we are always joking ribbing each other, and respectfully calling each other Ahole.

when I show up at one of our projects, I am greeted with a "Why are you not dead yet" to which I reply 'because it will make you happy Mother f%#er, if I did nor think it would make you happy i would die right now and fall in you. " I linger to annoy you"

I will work as long as they will have me and I dont embarrass my self.

I love working. If I lived in a country where they dont appreciate the value of my life long experience,and was put out to pasture , I would surely die soon after.

Many people I know are in a similar position as you, Sirineou. Most of my friends are also work-mates and I am afraid that if I retired, I would quickly slide out of their lives. When I was moved to a new location a few years back, the friends I had at the old place were good friends. It did not take long before we started to lose contact.

Thailand has another problem and that is the hierarchical structure of the society. Older people usually have a higher status and younger people need to defer to them. Hiring older workers upsets this balance. I know that the director I work with and the administration under her have trouble when an older worker gets inserted into the chain. The social structure doesn't deal well with this. Being equals isn't a part of Thai culture.

In Thailand the elderly are take care of by the family not the state, It is a cultural thing

Thailand like many other countries is subjected to western cultural influences and the above described cultural dynamic is under a lot of pressure.

If this trend is to continue, and I believe it will, cultural and governing adjustments need to be made.

Laws need to enacted to reverse age discrimination. and a safety net for the elderly deeds to be created.

It is as simple as that

My MIL lived with us for the last 7 or 8 years of her life (she died last October) in a small house about 15 metres from us.

We built it for my wife to live in while our house was being built but it was built with my in laws in mind.

FIL still lives in BKK with the 2 eldest brothers, 1 wife and a niece to keep an eye on him. He is however more than welcome to live with us if he should want to.

Many people I know are in a similar position as you, Sirineou. Most of my friends are also work-mates and I am afraid that if I retired, I would quickly slide out of their lives. When I was moved to a new location a few years back, the friends I had at the old place were good friends. It did not take long before we started to lose contact.

Thailand has another problem and that is the hierarchical structure of the society. Older people usually have a higher status and younger people need to defer to them. Hiring older workers upsets this balance. I know that the director I work with and the administration under her have trouble when an older worker gets inserted into the chain. The social structure doesn't deal well with this. Being equals isn't a part of Thai culture.

" Older people usually have a higher status and younger people need to defer to them. Hiring older workers upsets this balance."

And then there is that. I have to admite I never considered that dynamic, And it seems the Thai government has not either.

it cuts at the crux of the problem,

So if the younger people use to take care of the older people, but no longer do to the same degree they used to, and the work place environment dynamics do not allow it, them the younger people should pay for others to do that which they are unable or unwilling to do. And the only way to do this is IMO through higher taxes , dedicated towards Adequate Social Security for the elderly

Younger people need to remember one thing, they too, if they are lucky . will get old.

In Thailand the elderly are take care of by the family not the state, It is a cultural thing

Thailand like many other countries is subjected to western cultural influences and the above described cultural dynamic is under a lot of pressure.

If this trend is to continue, and I believe it will, cultural and governing adjustments need to be made.

Laws need to enacted to reverse age discrimination. and a safety net for the elderly deeds to be created.

It is as simple as that

My MIL lived with us for the last 7 or 8 years of her life (she died last October) in a small house about 15 metres from us.

We built it for my wife to live in while our house was being built but it was built with my in laws in mind.

FIL still lives in BKK with the 2 eldest brothers, 1 wife and a niece to keep an eye on him. He is however more than welcome to live with us if he should want to.

You are a good man and it shows in this reply and every post I have read by you

unfortunately not everyone is, and some are but cant afford it

For those people the larger Thai community need to make provisions IMO

We also take care of MIL and FIL, they are wonderful people and we want the best for them. Wife has made me promised her that if anything ever happened to her I will always take care of them, and I did. But she did not have to , I would take care of them regardless .

We have coincided bringing them to the US to live with us, but MIL has kidney failure, and is on dialysis. But even if they were capable of traveling I am not sure if they will like living in the US, the village is like a family to them. I think the US would be like jail to them.

Wife goes to Thailand and stays with them for a few months,

In Thailand the elderly are take care of by the family not the state, It is a cultural thing

Thailand like many other countries is subjected to western cultural influences and the above described cultural dynamic is under a lot of pressure.

If this trend is to continue, and I believe it will, cultural and governing adjustments need to be made.

Laws need to enacted to reverse age discrimination. and a safety net for the elderly deeds to be created.

It is as simple as that

My MIL lived with us for the last 7 or 8 years of her life (she died last October) in a small house about 15 metres from us.

We built it for my wife to live in while our house was being built but it was built with my in laws in mind.

FIL still lives in BKK with the 2 eldest brothers, 1 wife and a niece to keep an eye on him. He is however more than welcome to live with us if he should want to.

You are a good man and it shows in this reply and every post I have read by you

unfortunately not everyone is, and some are but cant afford it

For those people the larger Thai community need to make provisions IMO

We also take care of MIL and FIL, they are wonderful people and we want the best for them. Wife has made me promised her that if anything ever happened to her I will always take care of them, and I did. But she did not have to , I would take care of them regardless .

We have coincided bringing them to the US to live with us, but MIL has kidney failure, and is on dialysis. But even if they were capable of traveling I am not sure if they will like living in the US, the village is like a family to them. I think the US would be like jail to them.

Wife goes to Thailand and stays with them for a few months,

Thank you for your kind remark.

Hopefully my wife will do the same for me but I will not be spending too much time in hospital if anything serious happens to me. I have a plan be exit strategy and I only hope that I have enough strength to carry it out if it comes to that point.

I had looked into insurance several times but at 71 the cost, assuming somebody actually would insure me is far too high and I would rather use that money for my wife and son after I have gone.

I have had a great life and I only regret a few bits of it but my wife and son will live on after me and when I have gone a part of me will be in the spirit house in the front garden and my spirit will always be looking out for my family.

^^

If you still work after age 60, it's a good indication you have poor money management and planning abilities.

And if you still work because you can't think of anything else to do with your time ..... even worse.

OK if you're a shelf stacker I suppose.

Many people like to work because of the social environment it provides, especially as they age and friends 'fall away' . No doubt you would see this as being a bit of a loser.

Older people can always make friends by joining . say -a bridge club?