Thailand has been rapidly transforming into an
aging society since 2005. According to statistics, the
older population in 2010 accounted for 8.0 million
people or 11.9% of the national population comprising
67.3 million people whereby males have a mean age
of 69.5 years and females have a mean age of 76.3
years1, this figure is expected to increase to 16.1%
and 19.8% of total population by 2020 and 20252.
In 2010, the number of newborn infants and children
has been continually dropping, thereby resulting in a
continually increasing rate of burdens created by the
older population in comparison to the working age
population. Dependency ratio among older persons
have increased. One older person was cared for by
six people of working age. Over the next twenty
years (2010-2030), one older person will be cared for
by only two people of working age1. Furthermore,
many older persons are confronted with a number
of problems in living with health problems caused
by risk factors from the lowest to the highest levels,
resulting in chronic illness or disability with economic
and social problems. The government's current ageing
policies encourage older persons to remain at home,
allowing residential care to only the most frail and
disabled3,4. Hence, older persons are living in poverty
with escalating rising trends marked by living alone
with self-reliance. However, most of them have had
responsibility of their health by frequently observed
and concerned their own health problem so they
practice daily activity for promoting their good health
and consult with practitioners and health volunteer
immediately when they observed their health problems5,6.