Health status
During most of their elderly years, older Thais are in sufficient health to take care of themselves.
The period of dependence when a caregiver is needed to carry out daily living activities is thus
relatively short consisting of only a few years. Also the percent of older persons who report their
health as good or very good has recently been increasing. A substantial majority of olderpersons who have difficulties with the most essential daily activities have a personal caregiver.
However, those who can carry on basic activities of daily living on their own but have mobility
problems are far less likely to have a caregiver assisting them.
Substantial gender differences with respect to health among older Thais are evident. Older
women in Thailand, as in many other countries, generally have more non-fatal health problems
than men. At the same time, older men are distinctly disadvantaged with respect to life
expectancy. Among elderly who have a caregiver, wives most commonly fill this role for men
while children or children-in-law are the most common caregivers for women. The difference is
in part a result of the far higher levels of widowhood among women than men. Among nonmarried
older persons, most of whom are widowed, children or children-in-law are by far the
most likely to be the main caregiver.