Residential care community for pensioner to encourage active aging society

Thailand is forecasted to be a Super-Aged Society in 2031. The elderly has physical, mental, emotional, and social deterioration, causing most of the elderly to face three main problems: social, health and economic problems. But elderly people who plan well can overcome economic problems after retirement. They have the potential to choose their life after retirement. This research’s objective aims to study the proportion and type of accommodation that the elderly who had their own saving truly needed and recommend the accommodation models to promote a healthy society which is a multi-layered concept includes physical, social, and cultural aspects of people's participation in the environment.

The processes of research study compile secondary data of the elderly, case studies of elderly accommodation, buying factors and accommodation problems for the elderly. Then, field survey finds elderly community demand in Bangkok Metropolitan with questionnaires. The survey respondents mostly are married female, aged between 51-55 years old, healthy, employed by private sector with monthly income between 20,001-35,000 baht. Most of their family size are single family with children, mostly sons. They have a self-reliant financial status by savings. 14.5% of respondent, 263,407 people according to 2020 Department of Older Persons’ statistics, want to stay in an elderly house. A detached house is the most preference. Accommodation possession preference is leasing, with an average pre-occupancy lease fee of 140,744 baht and an average monthly services fee of 3,414 baht. There is a suggestion from the focus group process that condominium type should not be higher than 8 storeys. Each accommodation unit should provide amenities such as air conditioning, television, and refrigerator and include a living/television area, balcony, and pantry. Service features should be available in the elderly community including infirmary, hospital transfer, garden, and convenience store. Activities provided for residence to enjoy including hobbies and alms-making.

The main concern from focus group process to each type of accommodation was to motivate the target group to stay while they are still active. The design must cover the range until they cannot take care of themselves. Housing costs can be cheaper by providing commercial area. In addition, elderly housing development should be “Affordable Housing” and provides post-retirement careers for low-income seniors, the majority group, who still have the potential to work for earn some income.