Suan Dusit Poll finds Thailand is not ready to accommodate an aging society, and confidence in the future is also lacking. Elderly respondents indicate that the state welfare system is insufficient, and recommend that the government improve it by deploying local assistance officers and providing more appropriate financial support.
Today (26 Jul.), "Suan Dusit Poll" of Suan Dusit University surveyed the opinions of people aged 60 and above residing in Bangkok and various regions on the topic of "The Elderly and the State Welfare System." A sample group of 434 people (surveyed online and in the field) between 21–24 July 2026 yielded the following results:
1. How prepared do the elderly think Thailand is to accommodate an aging society?
Rank 1 — Not prepared: 67.28%
Rank 2 — Prepared: 32.72%
2. How sufficient do the elderly think the current state welfare system is in meeting their needs?
Rank 1 — Insufficient: 74.65%
Rank 2 — Sufficient: 25.35%
3. What do the elderly think the government should improve the most in order to make welfare more accessible?
Rank 1 — Having officers to assist in local areas: 65.90%
Rank 2 — Offering home-visit services for the elderly or people with disabilities: 62.21%
Rank 3 — Conducting comprehensive public outreach that reaches the elderly directly: 58.99%
Rank 4 — Adding channels that allow relatives to act on behalf of the elderly: 50.69%
Rank 5 — Reducing document submission procedures: 48.16%
4. If the government is to develop the welfare system for the elderly, which areas should it prioritize?
Rank 1 — Increasing financial support appropriate to each age group: 66.13%
Rank 2 — Providing a good medical treatment system: 59.91%
Rank 3 — Caring for the elderly in a systematic and long-term manner: 59.45%
Rank 4 — Promoting careers, generating income, and hiring more elderly workers: 48.85%
Rank 5 — Subsidizing water, electricity, and public transportation costs: 42.86%
5. Overall, how confident are the elderly that the state welfare system will be able to accommodate Thailand's aging society in the future?
Rank 1 — Not confident: 62.90%
Rank 2 — Confident: 37.10%
