Government centres to promote senior lifestyles, work opportunities

By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT is planning to set up elderly centres across the country within the next five years.

 

Somkid Somsri, director-general of the Older Persons Department, said at a meeting last week that the centres would promote quality of life and work for the greying population. 

 

“We will set up these centres via the Elderly Fund,” he said.

 

Somkid said his department would establish compliance standards for centres, but would put them under the supervision of local administrative bodies. 

 

Earlier this month, the Cabinet approved a bill to finance the Elderly Fund with an additional 2 per cent increase in excise taxes on cigarettes and alcohol sales. 

 

Thailand officially became an ageing society in 2005 and, within four years, it will be considered a full-fledged aged society. Estimates show elderly Thais will account for 28 per cent of the country’s total population by 2031.

 

Jinanggoon Rojananan, a senior adviser in policy and planning at the National Economic and Social Development Board, said the growing elderly population meant the government would have a bigger burden in providing welfare to its older citizens, particularly for healthcare. 

 

“We have to focus on empowering the elderly,” she said.

 

The 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan would address the need to empower people in the demographic, Jinanggoon said, adding that with the right policies, older people might not have to wait for help but could contribute to driving the country’s economy.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30323790

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-15

Casual immigration workers would be a starting point, with all the new and extended airports coming on line or will the next spot fire be allowed to ignite first. plenty of takers from the elderly who would do a great service for their country and for passengers entering the kingdom. 

 

Similar to Travelers Aid at Western airports and train stations.

assistance to visitors, volunteers retired or elderly, no work permit, both Thai and Farang helping the visitors to the kingdom when they arrive, help fill paperwork, give directions,

wanted and helping "The kingdom" at the same time.

Nothing will be done. 

33 minutes ago, over it said:

Nothing will be done. 

That's because most of them are still working just to survive

2 hours ago, ksamuiguy said:

Similar to Travelers Aid at Western airports and train stations.

assistance to visitors, volunteers retired or elderly, no work permit, both Thai and Farang helping the visitors to the kingdom when they arrive, help fill paperwork, give directions,

wanted and helping "The kingdom" at the same time.

This is a good idea, if the government expanded on this and did include farang participation this is the ideal time to possibly re-educate some people who now realise their youthful mistakes, and open education centers where the older generation can pass on their skills & thereby enable better education for the Thai workforce. It really would be a shame to miss this opportunity to harness this knowledge not only in Thailand but other developing countries.

Senior lifestyle... in Thailand, yea baby - 700 thb a month pension... let's go Vegas!