ฺBANGKOK, Jan 25 (TNA) – The Commerce Ministry through its Department of Business Development is trying to solve the shortage of care services for the elderly as Thailand will become an ageing society next year.
Wuthikrai Leeweeraphan, director-general of the department, said that next year there would be 13 million Thai people aged 60 and over who would form 20% of the total population.
Elderly people in Thailand and other countries especially Japan and European nations created good opportunities for senior care businesses in Thailand where there were affordable health services, service-minded people and tourist attractions, he said.
However, there had been complaints about insufficient care and substandard services at existing senior care facilities, Mr Wuthikrai said.
His department would offer knowledge about standard senior care services and also promote the expansion of senior care businesses in the country.
At present, there are 800 senior care facilities in Thailand. Of them, 273 ones are run by juristic parties and 527 others by individuals, Mr Wuthikrai said. Senior care businesses were facing the shortages of doctors, nurses, assistant nurses, therapists, nutritionists and occupational therapists.
Standard and expanded senior care businesses could also welcome elderly people from other countries, he said. (TNA)
