Population Ageing and the Well-Being of Older Persons in Thailand ...

Section 4: Health Status
Problems with vision are relatively common among
older persons. Although few indicate that they
cannot see at all, one fifth indicate they do not see
clearly (and presumably either have no eyeglasses or
eyeglasses cannot correct their situation). Hearing
problems are somewhat less common. Again very few
elderly cannot hear at all but 14 per cent indicate they
do not hear clearly (and apparently lack a hearing aid
to correct the problem). Both vision and hearing
problems increase substantially with age and are more
common among older women than men and more
prevalent in rural and urban areas. This is especially
so for vision problems and in terms of the urbanrural
contrast likely reflects more untreated cataracts
among the rural elderly. Problems with incontinence,
either with respect to urination or defecation, are
reported by 17 per cent of older persons. These
problems increase with age, are higher for women than
for men, and are somewhat more prevalent in rural
and urban areas. Finally, close to two thirds of older
Thais report that they were ill sometime during the
past five years. Again this situation increases with age
and is somewhat higher for men and women and for
rural than urban elderly.
4.4 Functional limitations
One serious consequence of declining health and
increased frailty associated with ageing is difficulty of
physical movement and of independently being able
to carry out basic activities of daily living. As
functional limitations increase, assistance by caregivers
becomes increasingly necessary. Table 4.2 examines
measures of functioning by looking at a variety of
potential disabilities that were asked about in the 2007
Survey of Older Persons in Thailand. 12 The first three
(eating, dressing, and bathing and using the toilet)
are the most basic functional activities. Only
relatively small percentages of persons age 60 and over
are unable to do these three activities by themselves.
Moderately higher percentages report having
difficulties squatting, climbing two or three stairs, and
counting change when using money. Considerably
higher proportions of older persons are unable to do
on their own those activities that require most
physical exertion such as lifting 5 kg or walking
200-300 meters. Likewise using transportation such
as buses or boats pose difficulty for a substantial share
of older Thais. Overall, more than a third report at
least one of the functional limitations listed.
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