Elder way of life in almshouse

Nowadays there are almshouses to support elderly people who don’t have house or their children don’t have time to take care them. That’s good to have great place to support them but what can guarantee that the place is good enough to make both their physical and mental health to be happy.

There are two cases of people who live in almshouse. First, senior citizens who were homeless and don’t have money to buy food or things to supply their daily life. Second, the ones who their children don’t have time to take care of them but prefer to send them there because they believe that such place can provide the better quality of life.

It is predicted to have over 9.7 millions or 15% elders in Thailand by 2017 which the number is dramatically increasing from the past. This will make the almshouse to play more important role in society, due to the overwhelming senior population.

When considering this condition, more questions raise. Can the almshouse be as sweet or as warm as home? Does it take good care of them? Does it what the elderly really want or they just have no choice?

For son or daughter, there are reasons why they bring their parents to almshouses. Nowadays, everyone has to live a rushing live and busy all day. So they won’t have time to take care of their parents. So taking their parents seems to be a good option. That way their parents will have someone who can take care them all the time. Elders will met other elders and become friends. They will become a nice and friendly community. Elders won’t be lonely anymore.

In Thailand have not much almshouse because most of Thais always live in big family there are parents, children and grandparent. But when the children grow up they live their own life, some of old people are neglected just because children don’t have time to take care of their parents. Isn’t it ridiculous when thinking of the whole lifetime that parents take care of them?