Get to know National Elderly Day

     Elderly people are important to the family institution, and the Thai government supports National Elderly Day on 13 April each year and sets policies to promote the well-being of the elderly.

     On 14 December 1982, the government, led by Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda, approved 13 April as "National Elderly Day," with the following objectives:

1. To assist the elderly who are unable to help themselves, homeless, or cannot live with their families;
2. To provide services to elderly people who live with their families but require assistance, such as nursing care, physical therapy, and recreation;
3. To ease the burden on low-income families who cannot afford to care for their elderly relatives;
4. To prevent and address social problems related to the elderly, such as neglect and social unrest;
5. To repay the goodness of the elderly, who have benefited the country;
6. To alleviate the anxiety among the elderly who are unable to pursue a career due to their advanced age. It is the government's responsibility to provide support and care.

     In addition, the government has chosen the white cheesewood flower “Lamduan” as the national flower for the elderly. This is because the white cheesewood is a long-living plant that provides shade and has green leaves all year round, and its flowers are cream-colored and fragrant, and the petals do not easily fall, which is likened to people of wisdom and virtue.

     Since National Elderly Day in Thailand coincides with the Songkran festival, it is a suitable time to travel to visit the elderly or send greeting messages to them to remember their goodness and show gratitude to our senior relatives, in agreement with Thai traditions that have been inherited for a long time.

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