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Mutual Learning and Development
Thailand is experiencing rapid population aging as life expectancy increases and birth rates decline. Traditionally, elderly care in Thailand has been provided mainly through informal care by families and local communities. However, the development of sustainable social security systems and formal care services has become increasingly important in recent years. In line with the Thai government’s national policy direction, community-based elderly care has emerged as a key strategy for responding to the challenges of an aging society by integrating both traditional informal care and the expansion of formal care services.
Meanwhile, Japan is one of the world’s most aged societies and has accumulated extensive experience and expertise in developing and operating social security systems, including long-term care insurance, pension schemes, and institutional elderly care services. However, Japan now faces major challenges in sustaining these systems amid a shrinking working-age population and rising care demands. In response, Japan has increasingly promoted Community-based Integrated Care, which supports older adults in continuing to live within their familiar homes and communities rather than relying solely on institutional care.
Recognizing both the similarities and differences between Thailand and Japan in the context of elderly care, the SMART & STRONG Project promotes mutual learning and co-development by facilitating the exchange of knowledge, practical experiences, and innovative ideas across communities, countries, policy environments, and cultural contexts.
The project also aims to strengthen mutual learning among Thai local authorities through an expanding municipal network within Thailand.
To date, the project has generated a wide range of outcomes through these collaborative learning processes.
Examples of Project Activities
1. Dementia Cafe
What is Dementia Cafe?
A Dementia Café is an inclusive community space where anyone—including people living with dementia, their families, healthcare and welfare professionals, and local residents—can gather informally, connect with one another, exchange experiences, and discuss concerns related to dementia. Dementia Cafés aim to create supportive environments that enable people with dementia to continue living in familiar communities with dignity and social connection.
In Japan, Dementia Cafés have been actively promoted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and have been widely implemented across local communities nationwide.
Background of Introducing Dementia Cafés in Thailand
As Thailand rapidly transitions into an aging society, the number of people living with dementia is also expected to increase. In response, the project introduced and adapted Japanese experiences and know-how related to Dementia Café activities in order to develop community spaces that support dementia prevention, social participation, and community-based care.
Launch of the First Dementia Café in Bueng Yitho Municipality
Prior to the establishment of the “STRONG CAFE” by Bueng Yitho Municipality and Thammasat University in 2022, several initiatives were conducted to share Japanese experiences and practical knowledge related to dementia care and Dementia Café management.
Key Opportunities for Knowledge Exchange
- 2019: Study visit and on-site learning at Dementia Cafés in Yokohama City for executives and healthcare officials from Bueng Yitho Municipality
- March 2022: Online seminar on dementia care and Dementia Café management led by Japanese healthcare and welfare practitioners for healthcare professionals, including doctors, physiotherapists, and caregivers
- November 2022: Hybrid seminar on community-based dementia care conducted by Japanese healthcare professionals, nurses, and care managers for approximately 40 healthcare-related officials from Bueng Yitho Municipality and Thap Ma Municipality
Since its establishment, STRONG CAFE in Bueng Yitho Municipality has continued to evolve. In June 2023, the municipality also launched a “Dementia Supporter Training Program” for high school students.
Furthermore, Bueng Yitho Municipality’s initiatives have been shared across other municipalities through the project network. Beginning in July 2023, Thap Ma Municipality and Khao Phra Ngam Municipality also launched their own Dementia Café initiatives, each adapted to local needs and contexts. Additional municipalities have since begun planning and implementing similar programs.
2. Day Care Center
The project has also facilitated knowledge-sharing among Thai local authorities regarding the establishment and management of Day Care Centers. This includes practical expertise related to operational functions and roles, budgeting and financial management, care management systems, and rehabilitation equipment.
Drawing on the experiences of pioneering municipalities, other municipalities also have successfully established their own Day Care Centers as part of the project’s network-based learning approach.
