Policy Administration Guidelines of Local Government Organizations for Elderly’s Potential Development and Encouragement

Abstract

          Thailand has been completely transitioning from aging society into aged society with shorter period than other countries, by the population data of Thailand in 2013 that it is stated that the population of Thailand is 64.6 million people consisting of 9.6 million people of elders. It has been expected that the number of elders would reach 17.6 million people by 2030 (26.3 percent), and 20.5 million (32.1 percent) by 2040, which is more than a quarter of the entire population (Foundation of Thai Gerontology Research and Development institute, Elderly Situation Report, 2008). Being an aging society affects the economic and social development of the country. Regarding the new labour sector approaching the labour market, it tends to decline that may lead to labour shortage and affect competition capacity of the country in advance.  Nevertheless, The local government organization is responsible for taking care of people in locality, as well as, operating at the secondary level from the regional level, which is in accordance with the decentralization plan for the local government organization, especially tasks transferred from the provincial sections, for instance, educational services, health services, registration tasks, and etc., (Pakin Chareononthasit, 2019). From document synthesis, it was found that the guidelines for policy management of local government organizations to develop and promote the capability of the elderly consisted of 1) Participation of all sectors, both government and civil sectors, 3) Knowledge of the leaders to manage the policy and treatment to the elderly, and 4) Integration in all aspects to achieve real success. This research article is therefore the study of administration of the current local government policies for supporting the aging society, including the appropriate guidelines for the administration of local government organizations in order to develop and encourage the potential of the elders in Thailand.