Thammasat Support Elderly Caregivers

Thammasat University, in collaboration with the Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), has organized a forum to listen to the needs and feedback from frontline workers involved in elderly care in Pathum Thani Province. This includes village health volunteers (VHVs), caregivers, and representatives from subdistrict health promotion hospitals (HPHs). Under the project “TU Care & Ageing Society,” the information gathered from this forum will be analyzed and used to establish collaborative working agendas between Thammasat University and the Pathum Thani PAO, aimed at supporting the provision of services, reducing barriers, and facilitating elderly care in the region moving forward.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Attasit Pankaew, Assistant to the Rector for Special Affairs at Thammasat University, revealed that currently, local administrative organizations in Thailand have high potential and are closely connected to and understand the issues and needs of the local populace. This has led them to become a refuge for citizens, especially in the context of an aging society and the environment of decentralizing primary health care services to local areas, resulting in increased public expectations of local governance. Therefore, Thammasat University, as an educational institution with a spirit of serving society and the public, has initiated the "TU Care & Ageing Society" project to support these organizations in enhancing the quality of life for the elderly through the provision of academic services, social services, skills development training, and community communication.

The effectiveness of elderly care in the community largely depends on the frontline workers, namely the VHVs and caregivers, who are the heart of the operation. Therefore, both agencies will collaboratively establish targeted policies to reduce obstacles and support the workers, enabling them to perform their duties as efficiently and happily as possible. This will ultimately lead to the promotion of well-being for the elderly in Pathum Thani Province.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Kumronwit Toopkrajang, Chief Executive of the Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Organization, stated that he personally places great importance on health issues and the care of the elderly. Future initiatives include providing blood pressure and diabetes monitoring equipment to community health volunteers via health promotion hospitals in Pathum Thani. Additionally, we will partner with Pathum Thani Technical College to repair damaged medical equipment for patients. These efforts demonstrate our commitment to leading local healthcare.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. M.L. Pinitbhand Paribatra, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at Thammasat University, stated that Thailand may be one of the first developing countries to transition into a highly aged society. The direction of Thammasat University under these circumstances is to promote the institution as a center for elderly care, providing knowledge support and addressing the needs of the country through social research. Therefore, the work model established today will serve as another form of development to enhance cooperation in healthcare for the elderly in Pathum Thani Province.

For the year 2025, which marks the first phase, cooperation will be established with Pathum Thani Province. At the policy level, Thammasat University will provide academic services to the local community on a broader scale, with a focus on the Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) of Pathum Thani, to identify needs and pain points in the care of the elderly at the community level. This will lead to policy proposals for Pathum Thani PAO, challenging Thammasat University to resource solutions.