Social Welfare Needs and Policies for Elderly People in Thailand: A Case Study in Pitsanulok Community

Thongphon Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn,Sombut Boonleaing,Natthavut Bungchan,Somkit Khamngae

doi:10.5539/ass.v10n12p142

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to study the level of satisfaction of older people with social welfare policy, to study the problems of social welfare policy, and to study public policy guidelines for social welfare in a community in Pitsanulok province. We did quantitative and qualitative methods for 3,701 questionnaires, interviews of 29 participants and a focus group of 15 experts to discuss policy guidelines. From the study, we found that older people were satisfied with social welfare policy at a moderate level such as social security, knowledge and education. However, the problems of social welfare policy such as the monthly payment assistance is not enough in the current economy, government’s lack of budget, and not allowing government agencies to take care of older people, so local government should create a department for service and support older people and also train government officers to have more knowledge about how to take care of older people. In addition, the government should train more healthy volunteers in communities to take care of and help to transfer older people to hospitals.

Highlights

For many decades, Thailand has been changing into an aging society, with a growing number of older people because medical technology makes people live longer
We found that older people were satisfied with social welfare policy at a moderate level such as social security, knowledge and education
From our study, we found many problems facing social welfare policy, such as: 1) The monthly payment policy the central government assigns to local government to give to older people is 500 baht every month is a big issue, because local government does not give to all people because of small budgets

Summary

Introduction

Thailand has been changing into an aging society, with a growing number of older people because medical technology makes people live longer. There is an economic issue between adults and younger people cannot stay home to take care of older relatives They often work outside the home to earn money for supporting their family. This cause makes older people stay home alone without anyone to take care of them and there is some concern about this issue. In 2010, 9 percent of Thailand’s total population is 65 or older, and that number will increase to 14 percent by 2021 This will further increase to 20 percent in 2031, and by 2031, Thailand will be an “aging society at the highest level” (Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, 2013)

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion