Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Thailand is facing aging society under the circumstances where the perspective of caring for older persons by the family is less emphasized than the past. The mobility of socio-economic condition has put profound impact on the well-being of older persons when their adult children are not the main caregivers for the older parents. The objective of this research is to identify the pattern of living arrangement and its impact on well-being of rural elders. The research was based on field survey with Thai citizens sixty years and older in Bangkontee district, Samut Songkram province. The findings indicated that living arrangement had significant impact on the health and financial condition of the rural elders. Older persons residing in a household without family members had less satisfaction for their health status and financial well-being. Policy recommendations include supporting local government to establish financial and health security for the rural elderly and promoting elderly values within the family institutions.