Family Structure, Socioeconomic Well-Being and Elderly Chronic Illness In Thailand

Thai culture which is related to caring of the elderly has been named as one of a very strengthen one in the world. The family, in general, has to look at their elder in every perspectives. This study focuses on Thai elderly ages between 65 and 84 years old quality of life, under the rapid changing of Thai society that moving from agriculture form to industrialize one. The research examines effect of family structure, household socioeconomic well-being on elderly quality of life that measured from chronic illness. The research employs a national survey of Thai elderly sport, exercise, and physical activity, and elderly quality of life in Thailand 2012 by the Institute for Population and Social Research Mahidol University. Finding shows that the elder who live in a nuclear family which is among them or a lone are more likely to have some chronic illness, and lonesome when compare to those who live in extended family. Family support is more likely depending on household well-being, and living arrangement of them and their children. Those who have some chronic illness and participating with elderly club are more likely to do some exercise, and some physical activities when compare to those who do not involving in the club. They are a person who is mostly living in a nuclear family where do not have household registration.  Thai elderly who would to receive support from government need to have some household registration. This result suggests that, to reduce some inequality of elderly quality of life when having some chronic illness, there should be some policies and some social welfare to support the illness elder, even if they do not have any household registration. This people are not a homeless person. They are Thai. But they may lose their household registration form.