Estimating Long-Term Care Costs among Thai Elderly: A Phichit Province Case Study

Background. Rural-urban inequality in long-term care (LTC) services has been increasing alongside rapid socioeconomic development. This study estimates the average spending on LTC services and identifies the factors that influence the use and cost of LTC for the elderly living in urban and rural are...

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Main Authors: Pattaraporn Khongboon, Sathirakorn Pongpanich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4180565
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author Pattaraporn Khongboon
Sathirakorn Pongpanich
author_facet Pattaraporn Khongboon
Sathirakorn Pongpanich
author_sort Pattaraporn Khongboon
collection DOAJ
description Background. Rural-urban inequality in long-term care (LTC) services has been increasing alongside rapid socioeconomic development. This study estimates the average spending on LTC services and identifies the factors that influence the use and cost of LTC for the elderly living in urban and rural areas of Thailand. Methods. The sample comprised 837 elderly aged 60 years drawn from rural and urban areas in Phichit Province. Costs were assessed over a 1-month period. Direct costs of caregiving and indirect costs (opportunity cost method) were analyzed. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine which factors affected LTC costs. Results. The total annual LTC spending for rural and urban residents was on average USD 7,285 and USD 7,280.6, respectively. Formal care and informal care comprise the largest share of payments. There was a significant association between rural residents and costs for informal care, day/night care, and home renovation. Conclusions. Even though total LTC expenditures do not seem to vary significantly across rural and urban areas, the fundamental differences between areas need to be recognized. Reorganizing country delivery systems and finding a balance between formal and informal care are alternative solutions.
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spelling doaj-art-524913c430cf4b0fa4fb81a6eeb304422025-08-20T03:36:31ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22042090-22122018-01-01201810.1155/2018/41805654180565Estimating Long-Term Care Costs among Thai Elderly: A Phichit Province Case StudyPattaraporn Khongboon0Sathirakorn Pongpanich1College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, ThailandCollege of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, ThailandBackground. Rural-urban inequality in long-term care (LTC) services has been increasing alongside rapid socioeconomic development. This study estimates the average spending on LTC services and identifies the factors that influence the use and cost of LTC for the elderly living in urban and rural areas of Thailand. Methods. The sample comprised 837 elderly aged 60 years drawn from rural and urban areas in Phichit Province. Costs were assessed over a 1-month period. Direct costs of caregiving and indirect costs (opportunity cost method) were analyzed. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine which factors affected LTC costs. Results. The total annual LTC spending for rural and urban residents was on average USD 7,285 and USD 7,280.6, respectively. Formal care and informal care comprise the largest share of payments. There was a significant association between rural residents and costs for informal care, day/night care, and home renovation. Conclusions. Even though total LTC expenditures do not seem to vary significantly across rural and urban areas, the fundamental differences between areas need to be recognized. Reorganizing country delivery systems and finding a balance between formal and informal care are alternative solutions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4180565
spellingShingle Pattaraporn Khongboon
Sathirakorn Pongpanich
Estimating Long-Term Care Costs among Thai Elderly: A Phichit Province Case Study
Journal of Aging Research
title Estimating Long-Term Care Costs among Thai Elderly: A Phichit Province Case Study
title_full Estimating Long-Term Care Costs among Thai Elderly: A Phichit Province Case Study
title_fullStr Estimating Long-Term Care Costs among Thai Elderly: A Phichit Province Case Study
title_full_unstemmed Estimating Long-Term Care Costs among Thai Elderly: A Phichit Province Case Study
title_short Estimating Long-Term Care Costs among Thai Elderly: A Phichit Province Case Study
title_sort estimating long term care costs among thai elderly a phichit province case study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4180565
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