Bangkok: The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has initiated a training course aimed at enhancing the skills of caregivers to protect the rights of the elderly, with the goal of increasing their numbers and delaying dependency among the elderly population. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, announced the launch of the 'Kick-off the training course for caregivers to protect the rights of the elderly' on January 15, 2025. The initiative is part of a policy to bolster community-based care for the elderly in the fiscal year 2025, addressing the population crisis by improving infrastructure to ensure a stable and high-quality life for the elderly.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Kanok Wongtra-ngan, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee to Monitor and Accelerate the Implementation of the Policy of the Minister of Social Development and Human Security, is scheduled to deliver a special lecture on the 'Project to Care for and Protect the Rights of the Elderly in the Community.' Additionally, an exhibition will showcase the outcomes of the project from the fiscal year 2024.
The Ministry, through the Department of Older Persons Affairs, launched the Community Elderly Rights Care and Protection Project in 2024, training 35 caregivers across 19 areas in 12 provinces, including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and others. The training includes a comprehensive 240-hour program, certified by the Department, covering theoretical, practical, and internship components across social, economic, health, environmental, and technological dimensions to enable caregivers to effectively improve the elderly's quality of life.
For 2025, the Ministry plans to expand the initiative to 156 areas in 76 provinces, creating 307 elderly rights caregivers. The Office of Academic Promotion and Support, part of the Ministry, will organize the training in collaboration with local educational institutions to prepare caregivers for their roles, starting in April 2025.