สำนักงานราชบัณฑิตยสภา

™“¬ ‚æ∏‘ ‘ µ“ «“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘ µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë ÛÛ ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Ò ¡.§.-¡’ .§. ÚııÒ 67 Abstract The Preparation towards Ageing Society Chai Pothisita Associate Fellow of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, The Royal Institute, Thailand. Demographic changes during the past several decades have resulted in Thailandûs being an ageing society with increasing number and proportion of the elderly. These numbers and proportions will continue to increase for several decades in the future. The important policy implications of this change is that Thailandûs transition to ageing society occurred so rapidly that socio-economic adjustments lag behind, resulting in several challenges. To meet these challenges, we need to accept that old people are resource as well as burden. Realizing these will help us best prepare to benefit from the elderly while inventing means to reduce the burden. Issues that need more attention, now as well as in the future, include health care for the elderly provided by the family and community, long-term care for the elderly who cannot help themselves, and appropriate strategies for economic and social security. So far, Thai society does not seem to have given sufficient attention to these challenges. To prepare for these challenges we need both short-term and long-term plans and strategies. We also need close cooperation of all sectors involved, particularly the academicians, state, and civil society. Key words : elderly, social resource, social burden, elderly care, old age security and Emerging Challenges. UNFPA Country Technical Services Team for East and South-East Asia. Ogawa, N. and Retherford, R. D. 1993. Care of the Elderly in Japan: Changing Norms and Expectations. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55(3): 585-597. Ogawa, N. and Retherford, R. D. 1997. çShifting Costs of Caring for the Elderly Back to Family in Japan: Will it Work?é Population and Development Review, 23 : 59-94. Wongboonsin, K. and Guest, P. 2005. çThe Demographic Dividend.é In K. Wongboonsin and P. Guest (Eds.), Demographic Dividend: Policy Options for Asia, (pp. 1-18). Bangkok: College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Asian Development Research Forum and Thailand Research Fund in collabora- tion with International Development Research Centre, Canada.