The consequences of adult children's migration from rural areas for older parents who remain behind are keenly debated. While the mass media and international advocacy organisations favour an ‘alarmist’ view of desertion, the academic literature makes more sanguine assessments using the ‘household strategy’ and ‘modified extended family’ perspectives. We examine the relationship between the migration of adult children and various dimensions of older parents' wellbeing in Thailand using evidence from a survey that focused on the issues. The results provide little support for the alarmist view, but instead suggest that parents and adult children adapt to the social and economic changes associated with development in ways not necessarily detrimental to intergenerational relations. The migration of children, especially to urban areas, often benefits parents' material support while the recent spread of cell phones has radically increased their ability to maintain social contact. Nevertheless, changing living arrangements through increased migration and the smaller family sizes of the youngest age groups of older people pose serious challenges for aspects of filial support, especially at advanced ages when chronic illness and frailty require long-term personal care. Dealing with this emerging situation in a context of social, economic and technological change is among the most critical issues facing those concerned with the implications of rapid population ageing in Thailand and elsewhere.

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This research provides evidence for cultural variability in the nature of psychological well-being and highlights the importance of developing measures that are culturally relevant.

High levels of treatment adherence are crucial for the success of expanding ART treatment programs everywhere. Augmenting adherence through treatment supporters is one promising strategy. Most discussions focus on peers, especially members of PHA groups, for this purpose. Far less attention is given to family members and especially older age parents. Yet ART recipients often live with or nearby parents and other family members who are highly motivated to ensure the treatment's success. This study examines the extent that family members, especially parents, assist adherence in Thailand. Results indicate that most adult ART patients live with family members and over half live with or in the same locality as a parent. Family members, including parents, commonly remind ART patients to take medications, especially if coresident. Moreover, parents often remind patients to get resupplies and sometimes accompany them to appointments. Clearly close family members, including parents, should be explicitly incorporated into adherence augmentation programs and provided adequate information to facilitate their role as long-term adherence partners, not only in Thailand but wherever ART recipients are closely linked to family members through living and caregiving arrangements.

Thailand has now reached a new demographic turning point with the advent of an ageing society. Improvements in the health care system and technology advancement over recent decades mean that Thais can now enjoy better health in old age than previously. Life expectancy at birth for the Thai population has been increasing steadily, and there has been an improvement among older persons in all aspects of health behaviors. Even though the majority of Thai elderly are sufficiently healthy to take care of themselves, there are an increasing number of elderly people who have difficulty with essential daily activities, leading to problems with disability and dependency. Non communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and tumor are some of the major health problems confronting older Thais. Due a higher incidence of illness and chronic conditions as compared to young people, the elderly typically require different types of care and health services. As Thailand becomes an ageing society, health services and proper care systems specifically for the elderly group need to be prepared and well established. Given the far greater likelihood of chronic conditions and disabilities among older persons compared to the rest of population, pressures on long-term care facilities and services will increase enormously. The issue of ageing should be given a high priority in both local and national government agendas. All sectors should be involved in adjusting care systems and programs to accommodate the rapid growth of older persons and the relative balance of age groups within the population. It will be crucial for the health sectors to provide services oriented towards geriatric and long-term care issues.