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The Old Age Allowance in Thailand: Wellbeing and self-worth for older people

Rose, Cecilia LU (2016) MIDM19 20161
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
South East Asia, and Thailand in particular, are experiencing rapid population ageing. In Thailand older people are increasing in both proportion of the population and absolute number. Adaptations are needed to support this ageing population and to prevent poverty in old age. Since 2009 Thailand has had a minimum universal social pension, the Old Age Allowance (OAA) for all citizens aged 60 and over. This research used 19 semi-structured interviews with older people in a rural area of Northern Thailand and 3 informant interviews to find which aspects of their wellbeing were influenced by the Old Age Allowance and how. It compared the elements older people identified as influenced by the OAA, with an integrated model of wellbeing consisting... (More)
South East Asia, and Thailand in particular, are experiencing rapid population ageing. In Thailand older people are increasing in both proportion of the population and absolute number. Adaptations are needed to support this ageing population and to prevent poverty in old age. Since 2009 Thailand has had a minimum universal social pension, the Old Age Allowance (OAA) for all citizens aged 60 and over. This research used 19 semi-structured interviews with older people in a rural area of Northern Thailand and 3 informant interviews to find which aspects of their wellbeing were influenced by the Old Age Allowance and how. It compared the elements older people identified as influenced by the OAA, with an integrated model of wellbeing consisting of seven domains. It finds that the OAA has some positive influence on all of these domains, which are: enjoying peace of spirit, accessing resources, exercising participation/agency, building social connections, sustaining close relations, enhancing physical and mental wellness and experiencing self-worth. It also finds some limitations of the OAA on older people’s wellbeing, especially by not challenging their dependence on their family and in not preventing the poorest from struggling for basics such as food. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Rose, Cecilia LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20161
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Social Pensions, Older people, Thailand, Social Protection, Ageing populations, Wellbeing
language
English
id
8902374
date added to LUP
2017-03-21 11:16:47
date last changed
2017-03-21 11:16:47
@misc{8902374,
  abstract     = {{South East Asia, and Thailand in particular, are experiencing rapid population ageing. In Thailand older people are increasing in both proportion of the population and absolute number. Adaptations are needed to support this ageing population and to prevent poverty in old age. Since 2009 Thailand has had a minimum universal social pension, the Old Age Allowance (OAA) for all citizens aged 60 and over. This research used 19 semi-structured interviews with older people in a rural area of Northern Thailand and 3 informant interviews to find which aspects of their wellbeing were influenced by the Old Age Allowance and how. It compared the elements older people identified as influenced by the OAA, with an integrated model of wellbeing consisting of seven domains. It finds that the OAA has some positive influence on all of these domains, which are: enjoying peace of spirit, accessing resources, exercising participation/agency, building social connections, sustaining close relations, enhancing physical and mental wellness and experiencing self-worth. It also finds some limitations of the OAA on older people’s wellbeing, especially by not challenging their dependence on their family and in not preventing the poorest from struggling for basics such as food.}},
  author       = {{Rose, Cecilia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Old Age Allowance in Thailand: Wellbeing and self-worth for older people}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}