Health Care Utilization and Impacts of Illness on Ageing Populations

Abstract

The proportion of older citizens in the population of most countries throughout the world is increasing. Maintaining the well-being of this cohort usually demands more attention and resources. The elderly as a group are generally in poorer health than the rest of the population. They are more likely to suffer from disabilities and to visit the doctor more often. Those with chronic ailments in particular, need continuing treatment, and some require long-term care in a nursing facility. For this more intensified health care, a larger portion of their income goes to health care. To meet the higher and more frequent medical expenditures, individual or family savings are usually tapped.  In developing countries, many elderly do not normally have enough earnings to cover recurring and higher health care expenditures. Fortunately, in many societies, including Thailand, the traditional value of intergeneration caring remains strong. The younger, productive generation takes care of the welfare of their parents and, in many cases, grandparents.  Nevertheless, public health care and welfare spending, such as public insurance, will likely increase.  The higher spending will be driven by the more frequent demand for health care from the growing number of elderly, chronically ill patients, and the higher cost of medical care. On top of this, governments are investing in improvements in health care systems and medical technology.

This article presents an advanced analysis of the utilization of health care in Thailand focusing on the demand for health care services and resources by the treatment of illnesses and chronic diseases of the elderly. The study takes a micro-analytic approach. An econometric model will be developed to analyze a bivariate effect. This would enable an inference of the incidences of chronic diseases and illnesses, health status of the population and health-related behavior (e.g., exercise). Additionally, health care utilization will be measured in the case of people who are admitted as inpatients for chronic diseases, e.g., hypertension, diabetes, heart conditions, and cancer. The analysis is disaggregated into different groups by occupation, age-cohort, economic status, and other attributes and informs a forecast of the magnitude of financial requirements of health care. The research results aid in the formulation of policy by providing the probability and magnitude of the elderly facing acute and chronic diseases.