MUSIC AS A MECHANISM FOR BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL AMONG THAI OLDER ADULTS: POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64186/jsp3607Keywords:
social capital, music for older adults, , completely-aged society, public policy, older adults’ wellbeingAbstract
Thailand entered the status of a completely-aged society in 2024, with citizens aged 60 and over comprising 20.2 percent of the total population. This rapid demographic transition has generated policy challenges extending beyond conventional public health and economic concerns, most notably the intensification of social isolation and the gradual erosion of social capital among older adults. Although Thailand has implemented a range of measures to support its aging citizens, the role of arts and music continues to be positioned as recreational activity rather than as social infrastructure.
This analytical, document-synthesis article presents an analysis across five interrelated dimensions: a conceptual framing of social capital relevant to older adults that draws on the foundational works of Bourdieu, Coleman, and Putnam alongside international empirical evidence; an examination of music-making as a mechanism for fostering both bonding and bridging social capital in later life; a survey of music programs for older adults in Thailand at community, institutional, and national levels; an analysis of policy gaps that perpetuate the recreational framing; and a Five-Pillar Policy Framework comprising workforce development, age-appropriate instrument and resource development, integration with primary health care, sustainable financing, and data infrastructure.
The article concludes that investment in music-based programs for older adults should be reconceptualized as strategic investment in social infrastructure with potential to reduce public health burdens, strengthen community cohesion, and enhance the holistic quality of life of older Thai citizens. The proposed framework offers actionable pathways for implementation across local, regional, and national tiers, particularly relevant as Thailand prepares to transition into a super-aged society by 2033.
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