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Elderly Don't Want to Live in Tall Buildings
By Penchan Charoensuthipan, Bangkok Post
Thailand
May 24, 2005
Social Development and Human Security Minister Pracha Maleenont's condominium project for the elderly at Ban Bang Khae welfare home is facing opposition from the old folk themselves.
Banlu Siripanich, chairman of the Association of the Councils of the Elderly of Thailand, said yesterday the elderly would ``100%'' reject the project because living in high, cramped buildings would make them uncomfortable.
Dr Banlu, a former deputy health permanent-secretary, said old people suffering from depression had a high risk of committing suicide if they lived in condominiums. ``I am confident no one will agree with this project. No one wants to live in narrow places built to generate business benefits,'' he said.
The association had carried out many studies on placing elderly people in condominiums and the results were not positive, he said.
Dr Banlu said he understood that Mr Pracha cared for the elderly but if he talked to old people he would find out that his condominium project was the wrong idea.
He suggested the ministry move the elderly from Ban Bang Khae, which was crowded, to other welfare homes in the provinces where there were still many vacant beds.
Dr Banlu said some of the old folk did not want to move out of Ban Bang Khae because they often received money and hand-outs from rich people who liked to make donations there.
``That is a wrong value. We don't want to see Thai elderly people become beggars,'' he said.
Duan Khamdee, chairman of the association's Krabi branch, said the government should improve the living conditions and facilities at all welfare homes rather than waste money building a condominium.
Panida Kampu na Ayutthaya, director of the Office for the Welfare Promotion and Protection of Children, Youths, the Underprivileged, the Disabled and the Elderly, said several firms had expressed interest in building the condominium which would also be used as an occupational training centre for the elderly.
Mrs Panida denied the building would be reserved for old, rich people, but would be for poor, old people, too.
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