Abstract
Intergenerational relations between older age parents and their children remain pervasive in Thailand. Over 70% of older persons live with or next to a child. Material assistance from children remains substantial. Desertion of elderly parents is quite rare. Family members, particularly children, are the main persons providing assistance to frail older persons. Nevertheless, co-residence with children has declined and living alone or only with a spouse has increased. Given projected smaller family sizes of future cohorts of older persons and the increasing migration of their children, these trends are certain to continue. Widespread access to telephones helps elderly parents to maintain social contact with distant children. Still, reduced numbers of adult children and their increased migration pose challenges for personal care of the elderly. Clearly adaptations by family and state are needed if the quality of life of Thai elders is to continue to improve.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Most findings presented in this article are based on original tabulations by the authors and were conducted in conjunction with a report on population ageing commissioned by the UNFPA country office (see Knodel and Chayovan 2008).
In the vast majority of cases, coresidence involves at least one adult child. For example, in 2007, less that 2% of coresident elderly lived with children who all were under age 18.
The lack of change in dependence on children as a main source of income is confirmed by national surveys in 1986 and 1995 both of which find similar proportions of older persons saying that children are their main source of income (Knodel et al. 2000).
In some cases, the financial support provided may be to cover expenses for the remitter’s children who live with the grandparents and thus may not contribute to the older age parents’ own welfare.
References
Cowgill, D. O. (1968). The social life of the aged in Thailand. The Gerontologist, 8, 159–163.
Cowgill, D. O. (1972). The role and status of the aged in Thailand. In D. O. Cowgill & L. D. Holmes (Eds.), Aging and modernization, pp. 91–101. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Jitapunkul, S., Chayovan, N., & Kespichayawattana, J. (2002). Chapter 6: national policies and long term care of elderly in Thailand. In D. R. Phillips & A. C. M. Chan (Eds.), Ageing and long-term care: National policies in the Asia Pacific, pp. 181–213. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Knodel, J., & Saengtienchai, C. (2007). Rural parents with urban children: social and economic implications of migration on the rural elderly in Thailand. Population, Space and Place, 13(3), 193–210.
Knodel, J., & Chayovan, N. (2008). Population ageing and the well-being of older persons in Thailand, Papers in Population Ageing 5. Bangkok, Thailand: UNFPA Thailand and Country Technical Services Team for East and South-East Asia.
Knodel, J., Saengtienchai, C., & Sittitrai, W. (1995). The living arrangements of elderly in Thailand: views of the populace. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 10, 79–111.
Knodel, J., Chayovan, N., Graiurapong, S., & Suraratdecha, C. (2000). Ageing in Thailand: an overview of formal and informal support. In D. Phillips (Ed.), Ageing in the Asia-Pacific regions: issues and policies, pp. 243–66. London: Routledge.
Knodel, J., Kespichayawattana, J., Wiwatwanich, S., & Saengtienchai, C. (2007). Migration and inter-generational solidarity: evidence from rural Thailand. In UNFPA Country Technical Services Team for East and Southeast Asia, Papers in Population Ageing Series, Number 2. Bangkok: UNFPA.
Knodel, J., Chayovan, N., Mithranon, P., Amornsirisomboon, P., & Arunraksombat, S. (2005). Thailand’s older population: social and economic support as assessed in 2002. National Statistical Office: Bangkok.
Nation, The. (2007). Momentum gathers for more pensions. The Nation September, 27, 2007.
National Statistical Office. (2008). Report on the 2007 survey of elderly in Thailand. Bangkok: National Statistical Office.
United Nations (UN). (2002). Report of the second world assembly on ageing. Madrid, 8–12 April 2002. Publication A/CONF.197/9. New York: United Nations.
World Bank. (1994). Averting the old age crisis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Knodel, J., Chayovan, N. Intergenerational Relationships and Family Care and Support for Thai Elderly. Ageing Int. 33, 15–27 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-009-9026-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-009-9026-7