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Published on October 3, 2007

The Thai government, along with governments around the world, marked the International Day of Older Persons on Monday with special activities to celebrate the lives of senior citizens and their contributions to society. It was also an occasion to take stock of how our own society has been doing in taking care of its elderly population. While Thai society still has cause to congratulate itself for retaining, by and large, the traditional Asian obligation of honouring and supporting the elderly, overall respect for senior citizens is not what it once was. The greying of the population is a worldwide demographic trend characterised by a dramatic increase in the number of older people. It is undeniably putting enormous pressure on families and societies. One disturbing phenomenon that has emerged is of an increasing number of older people being neglected or left to lead a miserable existence.

In the past, the question of how to adequately provide for the growing ranks of senior citizens was rarely raised for public discussion. That was because the unspoken rule assumed that each family would find its own way to care for its grandparents and ageing parents. It was almost a given fact that children would pursue an obligation to repay a "debt of gratitude" to their parents and grandparents. Such arrangements used to work well at a time when extended families were the norm. Several children in a family could pool their resources to take care of their elderly relatives.

But changes in demography - in which both birth and death rates are set to decline markedly at a time when nuclear families are rapidly replacing traditional extended ones - are eroding that custom. In addition, people are living longer, healthier lives, thanks to advances in medical science. Families are thus finding it more difficult to take proper care of their senior members because the younger generations - as parents and workers - lack the time or money, or both, even if they want to do so willingly.

Failure to adequately provide for the elderly in the household becomes a burden of guilt that adds great strain to family life.

According to the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, the percentage of elderly citizens - defined as people aged 60 and over - in the total population is projected to rise to 18 per cent of the population in 15 years, from the current 10 per cent, or 6.5 million people. By 2022, the number of seniors in Thailand will for the first time surpass the number of people under the age of 15.

The ministry estimates that some 460,000 people, or 7 per cent of the country's current elderly population, are suffering from neglect, with many leading solitary existences or living in poverty or destitution. For too many seniors, leading an independent life in dignity during their retirement years remains a luxury that many of them cannot afford. The government must take decisive action to make sure that more seniors get to choose how to spend their golden years.

Many years have passed since Thailand adopted the "National Long-Term Plan of Action for the Elderly (1992-2011)", but society has done precious little to prepare itself for this demographic revolution.

Key measures recommended under the plan include the dissemination of knowledge to seniors on the need to provide for themselves, including the possibility of active employment beyond the age of 60, on health in general, on the prevention of disease, and on the importance of nutrition and proper exercise.

What is sorely lacking at this late stage in the demographic change is an effective education programme to encourage current members of the workforce to put aside part of their income so they can afford to lead an independent later life and minimise the financial burden on others. However, it would be wrong to regard older people as a burden, because many seniors remain in good enough health to continue to play a critical role in society.

Senior citizens have a valuable role to play in volunteer work, sharing their experiences and imparting knowledge to the younger generation, or helping their families with caring for grandchildren. This is not to mention their increased participation in paid employment.

The Nation