INTRODUCTIONThe population of older

INTRODUCTION
The population of older people is now becoming the
dominant population segment in the world. The
proportion of people aged 60 years and over is
growing faster than any other age group. The
United Nations (UN) [1] stated that the growth rate
of those 60 or older would reach 2.8 percent
annually in 2025 to 2030. In the more developed
regions, almost one-fifth of the population was aged
60 or older in the year 2000; by 2050, this
proportion is expected to reach one-third. In the less
developed regions, only 8 percent of the population
is currently over the age of 60; however, by 2050,
older persons will make up nearly 20 percent of the
population [1].
In the case of Thailand, the relatively higher rate of
an increase in the older people population is a
consequence of a decline in fertility and
improvement in longevity. The total fertility rate
(average number of children per women) dropped
from 6.4 during 1950 to 1955 to 1.7 in 2005, and is
projected to decline marginally to 1.5 during the
next 20 years [2]. Life expectancy at birth (average
number of years a newborn is expected to live)
increased from 52 years during 1950 to 1955 to
nearly 71 years in 2000 to 2005. It is projected to
increase to 76.8 years further in 2025 to 2030 and
79.1 years by 2050. In addition, due to the
improvement of medical and public health
technology, the proportion of older persons in the
total population will increase to 14.0 per cent in
2015, to 19.8 per cent in 2025 and to nearly 30 per
cent by 2050 [2].
While the number of the older people increases, the
passage of time results in physiological and
psychological changes. Non-communicable diseases
and disability have had a striking effect on the Thai
older people demographic. Thai older people,
particularly those in the old-old age group (80 and
over year old), may suffer considerably due to the
physical effects of aging as well as due to a decline