Thailand needs a conducive environment for elderly people to help it cope with the health and economic challenges triggered by an ageing society, according to Sumet Ongkittikul, chief of the Thailand Development Research Institute's transport and logistics policy research section.
Given the rising number of retirees and elderly people, the government must make more equal-access facilities so they can remain "active" in their golden years, he said.
Together with TDRI researchers and urban planning experts, he called for a new environment with the goal of promoting healthier lifestyles to ease the pressure on health- and medical-care.
Mr Sumet said many Thai cities fall short in terms of offering public parks, museums, libraries and other social and cultural activities that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
In Bangkok, only a quarter of elderly people can relax in public parks within walking distance of their homes, research shows.
"Even though many of them love going to parks, most end up spending time walking around shopping malls instead," Mr Sumet said.
Travelling to places where they can participate in outdoor activities can also be a hindrance as public transport systems lack adequate facilities, he noted.
The elderly and disabled need more help getting around so they can travel safely and comfortably and "are not always forced to stay at home", Mr Sumet said.
"[Going out] is good for their mental health. In many cases, it also leads to them getting involved in social activities."
The government was also urged to build wider footpaths and more links between electric rail routes and popular venues so they don't have to rely on regular cabs and motorcycle taxis.
Accessories for the elderly: An elderly woman walks with the aid of a stick, while another woman uses a rollator with a basket to keep her steady as she walks. (Photo by Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)
"They would then be more keen to walk, which would help reduce diseases related to heart problems and high blood pressure," said Niramon Serikun, chief of the Urban Design and Development Centre.
Unless measures are taken, the kingdom will suffer the consequences of having an unchecked greying population, according to Worawan Chanduaiwit, a TDRI expert who specialises in social welfare programmes.
Within the next eight years, the number of bed-ridden patients is expected to rise to 200,000, with those who are sick or physically impeded at home shooting up to 300,000. This will cost several billions of baht in treatment, she said.
The economy could further feel the pinch as more people hit retirement age, with fewer graduates to fill the gap, experts said.
One of the more controversial proposals to combat this was reducing the number of armed forces conscripts each year, which are picked through a lottery system.
"Each year, up to 100,000 young Thai men are drafted to serve in the armed forces," he said.
"This number should be halved, with 'professional soldiers', or those who really want to pursue a military career, making up the shortfall, he said.