Migration of older persons seeking care in Thailand

Author : Ruttiya Bhula-or, Montakarn Chimmamee and Chadatan Osatis

Abstract

Dominant cultural views and norms in Asia indicate thatelder care should be met within the family. However, littleis known about the migratory patterns of older adults seek-ing care in non-institutional settings. This study investi-gatesolderadults’migrationpatternsandfactorsthataffecttheir decisions to seek care in home-based facilities. Weemployed an explanatory-sequential approach, using twodata sets: (1) Thai National Migration Surveys in Thailandfor 2016, 2017, and 2018, and (2) in-depth interviews with20 older adults who migrated for care. Our findings indi-cate that elderly migration for care in home-based settingsis a strategy used by households to meet the care needsof older individuals. Age group, marital status, education,gender, health, family structure, family attachments, andthe capacity of destination caregivers to provide care weresignificant factors influencing the likelihood of moving forcare. The findings support the new economics of labormigration paradigm in minimizing the risk of households.Additionally, they demonstrate that an ecological frame-work can be expanded beyond their geographical bound-ariesthroughfamilialconnectionsandtheconceptofagingin place.

Read more : https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/josi.12499