Caregiving to the elderly in Northeast Thailand

Caregiving has been extensively explored in developed countries, but less so in developing regions. In Thailand, a rapidly expanding elderly population and a declining birthrate have important implications for future care of the elderly. This report is based on further exploration of data obtained from a larger study in rural Northeast Thailand of 89 households with elderly age 65 and over. Four levels of caregiving and methods for caregiver selection were identified from this data. In addition, a subgroup of 39 caregivers were interviewed for their perspectives on the activities of caregiving, the impact of caregiving on caregivers' lives, support of kin and the meaning of caregiving to the involved caregivers. Poverty was the most common problem identified by these caregivers, but caring for men and difficulty in pleasing the elders were seen as contributing to the non-enjoyment of caregiving. Affective rewards and a strong norm of filial obligation may be the motivating forces for children to continue to care for parents in the context of cultural change.