Living arrangements of the elderly in Thailand: Views of the populace

Abstract

Qualitative data collected in Thailand through a series of 26 focus groups held separately with elderly individuals and adults with elderly parents provides insights into Thai views on a variety of issues related to the living arrangements of the elderly. These include the benefits and problems associated with coresidence, the choice of the coresident caregiver, mechanisms encouraging co-residence, alternatives to living with children, and the impact of social changes on living arrangements. The normative expectation that adult children should care for and support their elderly parents remains deeply ingrained in Thai culture and includes a strong sense of obligation to have at least one child coreside with or live in close proximity to elderly parents is clearly borne out in the focus group discussions.