Thailand

We work with Affiliates and partners, such as civil society networks and academics, to advocate for older people's rights, including improvements to old age pensions.

We help older people engage in productive activities to earn an income and improve their livelihoods.

We help older people in their homes by carrying out repairs, improving sanitation, and providing mobility aids and medical check-ups.

We support volunteers who provide care at home to frail and disadvantaged older people.

We raise public awareness of ageing issues through work with the media.

Life story: Tan Khampeera, 75

Tan said: I’ve seen camps for young people. But I’ve never seen a camp that brings both young and older people together. (c) HelpAge International Tan Khampeera, 75, attended the Grandparents and Grandchildren Event with Tata, his 7-year-old grandson.

The event, a week-long camp to cultivate positive attitudes and to strengthen the bond between generations bought together 14 families from all over Thailand.

Tan said: "My time with Tata at the camp has been precious. We have had fun together. We’ve also been impressed with meeting new friends who come from different regions. I’ve seen camps for youth. But I’ve never seen a camp that brings both young and older people together.

"I can see that it attempts to build and strengthen understanding between generations. That is exactly what I have believed in throughout my life raising children.

"I’m sure the camp will benefit all participants both young and old. It’s created a good memory for us. This event may be a once in a life time opportunity for Tata and me."

Supporting older people in Thailand

Healthcare

• We helped 243 older people by training 180 volunteers to provide care and support, including food, cloths and arranging medical appointments.
• 1,760 older people now have better access to care, an improved income and food security as a result of our work.

Livelihood support

• We supported 812 older people in 39 older people’s group to take part in activities, ranging from animal husbandry, fishery and handicrafts.
• We supported communities to set up saving groups to provide for themselves. All nine groups included welfare for older people.

Advocacy

• We actively engaged in national campaigns and dialogue processes on social protection and pensions. The existing universal social pension increased from a flat rate to a progressive rate according to age. This has benefited around 80% of the total older population, approximately 6.85 million older people.

Rights and entitlements

• We helped more than 600 older people access their rights and entitlements by training volunteers and older people’s groups. We helped older people and their families register for the universal old age monthly allowance and disability allowance among others. 

Emergency support

• We helped 2,200 older people and their families who were affected by the wide spread floods in late 2011 through distribution of relief kits and cash grants.

Promoting intergenerational relationships

• We hosted an intergenerational event in Chiang Mai with 15 family groups of grandparents and grandchildren. The objectives of the gathering were to strengthen understanding between grandparents and grandchildren and educate grandparents about care and protection for children under their care.

What next?

• We will advocate for an increase in the old age social pension.
  
• We will work with 40 communities to promote the well-being of older people by strengthening older people’s groups and networks and their ability to respond to older people’s needs.
  
• We will continue to provide care and support to older people through trained volunteers.
  
• We will promote the inclusion of older people in emergencies by supporting the implementation of ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response in the country.
  
• We will raise awareness of older people’s rights by taking part in the development of regional and international human right mechanisms.

Our Affiliates

Foundation for Older Persons' Development (FOPDEV), Senior Citizens' Council of Thailand, Senior Citizen Association of Thailand

Our partners

Faculty of Nursing at Chiang Mai University, Civil Society Network for Welfare State, The informal worker network, asean-radio.com, Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) and Ba-ram-ewe Production Ltd, Plan International, Oxfam, REEDA, Disabled People’s Council of Thailand, Save the Children

Our donors

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), ROK-ASEAN Co-operation Fund, Age UK, HelpAge Korea, ECHO, European Commission, FK Norway, IFKO, Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT), Japan Foundation