The Nation: 20 % of Thai Elderly Live Alone

One-fifth of Thai elders live alone

The Nation

Nearly one-fifth of Thailand's elderly now live alone as society sees an increase nuclear families that care less for ageing members.

"It's alarming. The number of elderly people living alone has been climbing every year," Dr Yaowarat Porapakkharm said yesterday.

She was presenting her analysis of a health survey conducted in 2003 and 2004 with the support of the Health Systems Research Institute.

Back in 1970, only 10 per cent of the elderly lived alone, Yaowarat said.

"What is shocking is that more than 12 per cent of the elderly population who cannot work are now left in welfare centres," she said.

She said more than 80 per cent of the elderly population were currently working to support themselves and, in some cases, family members.

"According to our survey, most working elderly people still want to work. However, their health can be a problem," Yaowarat said.

She said many of the elderly suffered from malnutrition in addition to common ailments such as asthma, diabetes, anaemia, cancer, degenerative joints, kidney failure, high cholesterol and hypertension.

Yaowarat urged Thai society to take good care of the elderly. "Promote family ties. It's good for all family members," she said.

What happened to the myth that Thais respect the elderly and take care of their parents and grandparents until they died?

I was told that only the farang abandon their elderly parents in rest homes.

Here is a good story over at www.thaifiction.com about how Thais treat the elderly.