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

Section 6: Policy and Programme Responses
The most recent government response to population
ageing is embedded in the 2007 Constitution which
replaced the 1997 Constitution. Section 9, Article
53 states that persons age 60 years or older who have
no sufficient income for living have the right to
receive welfare, public amenities and appropriate
assistance from the State.
In pursuance of the 1997 Constitution’s prescription
and the 2002 Act on Modification of Ministries and
Divisions to re-organize the Thai bureaucracy, the
Bureau of Empowerment for Older Persons under the
Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and
Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups of the Ministry
of Human Resources and Social Development was
established. The Bureau serves as the focal point on
population ageing in Thailand and is responsible for
co-ordination of activities related to older persons.
In an effort to safeguard the social protection and rights
of the elderly, parliament passed the Act on Older
Persons in 2003 which became effective in January
2004. The Act officially establishes the National
Commission on the Elderly as a permanent body for
the first time with the Bureau of Empowerment for
Older Persons serving as the Secretary of the
Commission. The main function of the Commission
is to set policy and guidelines to oversee elderlyrelated
matters. It also has a mandate to monitor
implementation of the 2nd National Plan for Older
Persons. The Act also establishes a specific Elderly
Fund to cover expenses related to the promotion and
support of activities related to elderly.
The provisions of the 2003 Act on Older Persons state
that persons age 60 and over shall be entitled to
protection, promotion and support in the following
areas:
1. convenient and expedient health services;
2. education, religious activity and information
beneficial for older persons lives
3. suitable occupational opportunities and training;
4. self-development, participation in social activities,
and the formation of network groups;
5. facilities and safety in buildings, places, vehicles
or other public services;
6. concessions on public transport;
7. exemption of entrance fees to government parks
and facilities;
8. aid for those facing abuse, exploitation or
abandonment;
9. legal or family counselling;
10. accommodation, food and clothing if necessary;
11. monthly allowances according to need;
12. subsidies for funerals.
Systematic Data Collection at the National Level. The
2003 Elderly Act mandates that the National
Commission on the Elderly submit an annual report
on the situation of elderly in Thailand be submitted
to the Cabinet. To ensure the availability of up-todate
data, the National Statistical Office is to
continue conducting periodic surveys on older
persons. Current plans are now to conduct national
surveys on Thai elderly every three years.
6.2 Elderly plan in context of Madrid Plan of
Action
It is notable that the primary driving forces behind
policy development regarding older persons in
Thailand have shifted from external influences
during the earlier period, mainly United Nations
recommendations, to concerns emanating internally
within in Thailand (Jitapunkul, Chayovan &
Kespichayawattana 2002). Nevertheless, although the
2nd National Long-Term Plan for Older Persons was
drafted prior to the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing
held in Madrid in 2002, most of the contents are
consistent with the Plan of Action adopted by the
Assembly. The Madrid Plan designates three broad
directions for action along with associated strategies:
ensuring that older persons both participate and
benefit from development; promoting health and
well-being into old age; and ensuring an enabling and
supportive environment for older persons. The
strategies of Thailand’s 2nd National Plan for Older
Persons have been designed to prepare the country
for an ageing society and the individuals for quality
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