HomeSUKIMATvol. 1 no. 1 (2015)

The College of Asian Scholars (CAS) aging population and transformative education

Krasom Chanawongse

 

Abstract:

In one CAS academic research paper entitled “Therapeutic Empowerment Program for Reducing Depressive Symptoms in the Elderly at the St. Joseph’s Home in Khon Kaen”, the researchers pointed out that Thailand is just 10 years short of being designated as an aging population, with 20% of its population being aged 60 years or over. By the year 2040, there is expected to be 20,702,000 elderly or 27.80% of the total population. Along with this, there is an increasingly large number of older people living alone, who are at risk of feeling lonely and isolated. The proposition is that loneliness morphs into depressive symptoms (depression). The paper further states that in the past ten years, the incidence of depression is higher worldwide which consistently leads to major public health issues that exacerbate disease risks globally.