What’s Happening to the Social Support for the Elder People in Thailand?

This study aims to investigate the situation of social supports for elderly person aged 60 years and over in Thailand. Data used in this study are secondary for the 2011 Surveys of Elderly in Thailand which was conducted by NSO.
It is found that place of residence does not have effect for the monetary support among the elderly whose children living in the same household. Child(ren) who lived in urban area were more likely to receive money from their parents than the child(ren) who live in rural area. Elderly who had child(ren) living outside household were more likely to receive material support once a year from their children especially elderly who lived in urban area. The result also shows that there are more skipped generation pattern in rural area than urban area. Elderly and their children visited each other only once in a year especially those elderly who lived in urban area. However, children still had other social network to contact their parent. Most elderly were more likely to contact with their children by mobile phone often (everyday/ weekly/ monthly).
Family support is still a norm of Thailand but the pattern of social support has changed. Elderly can act as both “givers” and “receivers.” Thus, the government should develop policy for elderly in form of welfare such as healthcare, social, and housing welfare.