Population Ageing and the Well-Being of Older Persons in Thailand ...
Population Ageing and the Well-Being of Older Persons in Thailand ... Population Ageing and the Well-Being of Older Persons in Thailand ...
Contents (continued) 5. Family Support and Intergenerational Exchanges ...................................... 39 5.1 Living arrangements ............................................................................................ 39 5.2 Material support ................................................................................................. 47 5.3 Social support ...................................................................................................... 50 5.4 Implications of family size ................................................................................... 53 5.5 Future expectations of filial support .................................................................... 55 5.6 Summing up ....................................................................................................... 56 6. Policy and Programme Responses ....................................................... 57 6.1 Increasing saliency in Thai government planning ................................................. 57 6.2 Elderly plan in context of Madrid Plan of Action ................................................. 59 6.3 Social security system and pension plans ............................................................. 60 6.4 Welfare allowances and tax breaks ........................................................................ 61 6.5 Health programmes and free services for elderly ................................................... 61 6.6 Other social services and projects ......................................................................... 62 6.7 Role of organizations besides the Thai government ............................................. 63 6.8 Summing up ........................................................................................................ 64 7. Key Findings and Recommendations .................................................... 65 7.1 Introductory comments ....................................................................................... 65 7.2 Some key findings ................................................................................................ 65 7.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................... 67 Endnotes ......................................................................................... 70 Bibliography ..................................................................................... 72 viii
Executive Summary Introduction Population ageing is occurring in much of Asia. In Thailand where fertility rates have fallen sharply over the past decades, this process is recent and pronounced. Thailand is particularly fortunate in having a series of nationally representative surveys of the older population that permit determining important trends in the well-being of the older age population and an up-to-date assessment of their current situation. In this report, we examine the demography of ageing in Thailand, explore the health and social and economic well-being of the older population, and describe government policies and programmes related to population ageing. Particular attention is given to differences in relation to age, gender and place of residence (urban or rural). Demography of ageing As a result of an exceptionally rapid decline in fertility in which the total fertility rate fell from above 6 in the 1960s to its current level below replacement, Thailand is undergoing an extensive process of population ageing. Changes in the age structure will be profound and the growth of the older age population truly dramatic. From a situation prior to the fertility transition when older persons constituted only 5 per cent of the population, more than one in four Thais are likely to be age 60 or older within just a few decades from now. Moreover, in just a little more than another decade, persons age 60 and older will exceed those under age 15 for the first time in Thailand’s history. This pace of population ageing is many times faster than experienced historically in the West. Moreover, the older population itself is ageing and there is a pronounced sex imbalance with women greatly outnumbering men especially among the oldest old. Within Thailand, the flow of young adults from rural to urban areas combined with many migrant to cities leaving their young children in the care of the rural grandparents has resulted in higher concentrations of both children and elderly in the rural compared to urban areas. The population in the most economically productive ages relative to that in elderly ages where economic dependency is common is virtually certain to decline to only a fraction of what it has been in the recent past. Thus the provision of material support for older persons will take on quite a different dimension than has been or currently is the case. Likewise, given the far greater likelihood of serious health problems among older persons compared to the rest of the population, pressures on health facilities and services will increase enormously. In brief, these demographic developments will have important consequences for families, communities, and Thai society as a whole. Demographic, social and economic characteristics The social and economic profile of today’s elderly and trends over the recent past as presented in this report are encouraging in several respects. Significant improvement in the material well-being of the older population has clearly occurred. Compared to just a little over a decade ago, older Thais in 2007 live in households with far more appliances and amenities that make daily life more convenient. Their households are also more likely to have a motorized vehicle making meeting transportation needs easier. Particularly dramatic is the rapid and recent spread of telephones, especially mobile phones, a development that greatly improves the ability of elderly and their children and relatives who live elsewhere to maintain contact with each other. This not only contributes to social well-being but facilitates seeking assistance at times of health emergencies or when other critical situations arise. ix
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Contents (cont<strong>in</strong>ued)<br />
5. Family Support <strong>and</strong> Intergenerational Exchanges ...................................... 39<br />
5.1 Liv<strong>in</strong>g arrangements ............................................................................................ 39<br />
5.2 Material support ................................................................................................. 47<br />
5.3 Social support ...................................................................................................... 50<br />
5.4 Implications <strong>of</strong> family size ................................................................................... 53<br />
5.5 Future expectations <strong>of</strong> filial support .................................................................... 55<br />
5.6 Summ<strong>in</strong>g up ....................................................................................................... 56<br />
6. Policy <strong>and</strong> Programme Responses ....................................................... 57<br />
6.1 Increas<strong>in</strong>g saliency <strong>in</strong> Thai government plann<strong>in</strong>g ................................................. 57<br />
6.2 Elderly plan <strong>in</strong> context <strong>of</strong> Madrid Plan <strong>of</strong> Action ................................................. 59<br />
6.3 Social security system <strong>and</strong> pension plans ............................................................. 60<br />
6.4 Welfare allowances <strong>and</strong> tax breaks ........................................................................ 61<br />
6.5 Health programmes <strong>and</strong> free services for elderly ................................................... 61<br />
6.6 O<strong>the</strong>r social services <strong>and</strong> projects ......................................................................... 62<br />
6.7 Role <strong>of</strong> organizations besides <strong>the</strong> Thai government ............................................. 63<br />
6.8 Summ<strong>in</strong>g up ........................................................................................................ 64<br />
7. Key F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>and</strong> Recommendations .................................................... 65<br />
7.1 Introductory comments ....................................................................................... 65<br />
7.2 Some key f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs ................................................................................................ 65<br />
7.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................... 67<br />
Endnotes ......................................................................................... 70<br />
Bibliography ..................................................................................... 72<br />
viii
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