Changing times leave poor elderly folk 'in need of extra support'

>>As an aged society, Thailand will need to figure out how to care for elders who have no pension or income, says a Thammasat University academic.

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As the national workforce continues to shrink, with people aged 60 or older accounting for about 20-30% of the population, Thailand is facing challenges in the financial and welfare sectors, says Auschala Chalayon-navin, a public policy expert at the Thammasat's faculty of social administration.

The burden of caring for the elderly has increased, Dr Auschala said, with the old-age dependency ratio rising from 10.7% in 1994 to 31.1% last year.

She previously warned that Thailand must address the growing number of elderly without pensions or other kinds of financial support.