Caring for Thai Older Persons With Long-Term Care Needs

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Thailand faces rapid population aging.
• Empirical data on long-term care needs is limited.
• Understanding caregiving dynamics is crucial for an aging society.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current situation of long-term care needs among older adults in Thailand.
• To identify patterns of caregiving and assess unmet care needs.
• To examine the association between caregiver types and older persons' well-being.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2014 Survey of Older Persons in Thailand (SOPT).
• Assessed caregiving patterns, unmet needs, and primary caregiver roles.
• Analyzed the relationship between caregiver types (familial/non-familial) and well-being.

Main Results:

• Long-term care needs rise significantly with age and are more prevalent in women.
• Spouses and children form approximately 90% of main caregivers.
• The link between family caregiving and socioeconomic factors (education, assets) is weak.

Conclusions:

• Family members are the primary providers of long-term care in Thailand, reflecting strong social norms.
• The study addresses a critical gap in empirical evidence regarding long-term care in an aging Thai population.
• Findings inform policy and interventions for supporting older adults and their caregivers.