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Published on August 13, 2007

A new social welfare and health project will tackle the rising number of elderly - expected to reach 11.3 million by 2020.

The scheme is jointly run by the Public Health, Interior and Social Development and Human Security ministries and the National Economic and Social Development Board.

It is called the Community Based Integrated Health Care and Social Welfare Services Model for Older Persons. It will trial in four provinces starting in October.

In 2000, the number of people aged 60 or older was about 5.6 million. By 2020 that will have increased to 11.3 million.

The growth of their number is expected to outstrip the general population, the Public Health Ministry said.

By 2020, the proportion of working-age people in the population will be declining, too, Health Department director-general Dr Narongsakdi Aungkasuvapala said.

Narongsakdi - who is in charge of the project - said the dependency ratio of elderly people would increase, as would that of those prone to chronic illness and requiring daily assistance.

This will become a "social and economic burden" and the government will need to pay more for the medical and welfare costs of the elderly.

"Thailand is going to see its elderly population doubling within 20 years, compared with more than 100 years in France. The government needs to plan for its fast-growing elderly population," Narongsakdi said.

Other departments, too, will need more money to support an increasing number of older people.

The Social Development and Welfare Department estimates its requirement for elderly care will rise from Bt197.5 million next year to Bt316.4 million in 2011 - a 60.2-per-cent increase.

Meanwhile, the Welfare Promotion and Protection of Children, Youth, the Dis-

advantaged, Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons Bureau expects expenditure to rise from Bt141.1 million next year to Bt210 million in the same period - or a 48.8-per-cent hike.

The 2002 to 2021 national economic and social development plan includes care for the elderly. Its intention is to ensure the elderly are able to help themselves and live happily with families and others in their communities, Narongsakdi.

It adopts a five-pronged approach to elderly care involving preparing people for quality ageing, promoting well-being among older people, social and management systems, personnel development and research for policy and programme formulation, monitoring and evaluation.

The new model will be piloted in tambons in Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Nonthaburi and Surat Thani. If it proves successful, it will be implemented everywhere.

"The objective of the project is to create community-based services to reduce the number of elderly facing health problems and becoming a burden to others

"It will develop their physical and mental health by establishing elderly clubs with activities - exercising, singing, volunteering for hospitals and making handicrafts," Narongsakdi said.

The government and board have asked for help from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. It will provide experts in care and welfare. Local officials will travel to Japan for training.

Provincial organisations can make suggestions to improve the pilot projects - including ways to create interaction among family members, activities to improve the physical and mental health of the elderly and long-term care for those unable to fend for themselves.

The pilot project divides the elderly into three groups: those able to care for themselves, those requiring some assistance and those who need constant care. Assistance and services will be tailored to meet the needs of each group.

The Health Department experimented with several ideas before the model was designed, including the Pleasant Family, Healthy Thailand, Home Health Care and Chit-Asa projects.

Wannapa Phetdee

The Nation