Paradigm of Housing Policies for the Elderly in Thailand

Abstract

The research on Paradigm of Housing Policies for the Elderly in Thailand aims to investigate internal and external factors affecting the housing policy framework for the elderly and to study the consequences of changes in the housing policy framework for the elderly in Thailand. This research is qualitative in nature and is conducted based on documents related to housing policies for the elderly. The findings reveal that international organizations play a significant external role by exporting housing management concepts to Thailand. Internal factors include the elderly population size, government policies, and pertinent legislation, all acting as supportive factors. The evolution of paradigm of housing policies for the elderly in can be categorized into four periods: 1) Pre-1982: The era marked by the establishment of elderly care institutions. 2) 1982-1996: A period characterized by the expansion of elderly care institutions. 3) 1997-2011: An era focused on creating environments conducive to supporting the elderly within their original homes. 4) 2012-Present: The current phase involves developing residential facilities for all elderly groups based on the principle of aging in place. These distinct periods of policy evolution have resulted in varying government policies. Initially, the focus was on establishing care institutions for the destitute elderly. However, policies have shifted towards organizing housing facilities under the framework of aging in place, emphasizing the importance of catering to all elderly groups.