Highlights from 2007

300 older people attended a celebratory seminar called "Active ageing: Following in H.M. the King's Footsteps". This was well received by the public and the media.

Following the seminar, delegates met with several government departments and ministeries. As a result, the government confirmed plans to implement policies on behalf of older people including:

• implementation of the Older Persons Act, including social pensions
• support for community activities through Older Person Funds
• free healthcare services and promotion of self-care
• supporting and supervising local authorities to provide care and support to older people.

What's planned for 2008?

This year our partners at the Foundation for Older Persons' Development (FOPDEV) have arranged for the Thai delegation to meet with the:

• Director of the Bureau for Empowerment of Older Persons
• Director of the Bureau of Data Base and Social Indicators, National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB)
• Director General of the Department of Local Administration.
• Senior Research Specialist Human Resources and Social Development Programme, from Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation.

The delegation will present a list of asks, based on their own experiences as older people, including:

• By 2009, enable poor older people to obtain the government stipend of 2,000 Baht for funeral expenses from their local district authority. Currently, older people must travel to the provincial capital to obtain this money, which prevents many poor older people from accessing it.

• Improved certification procedures and cross-checking committees at local government level. This will ensure all recipients of the social welfare pension fulfil the elegibility requirements. At present, social pensions often do not reach the most disadvantaged because there are too many loopholes.
  

The delegation

Panus Limpistien, 70

Panus is a retired school teacher and former owner of a kindergarten in Bangkok. He became ill after being exposed to dangerous pesticides on his own flower farm. Since his recovery, he has been actively promoting bio-farming.

Ms. Sutthinee Kijdhammakul

Sutthinee is a former teacher and has become more involved in community activities since her retirement. She is a former president of the Older People's Association in Nong Seng, Chiang Mai.

Sutthinee is keen to contribute to the development of her community, and she has a particular interest in promoting traditional ceremonies and cultural activities.