Bangkok has got a new activities building at Din Daeng Services Centre for the Elderly, aiming to promote an active lifestyle among senior citizens.

Presiding over the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the elderly are an important human resource of the city who provide a source of knowledge, experience and valuable life lessons.

“Elders should not stay at home all day long, but should instead find new friends and engage in activities at the senior centre,” he said. “It is Bangkok’s duty to take care of its elders. We aim to establish more of such centres throughout the city, providing all services that the elderly need.”

The governor added that children were also welcome to join in the activities at the centre to promote mutual learning among different generations.

The new activities building has been built as part of the governor’s policy to promote active ageing among senior citizens with focus on boosting physical and mental health, improving the quality of life of the elderly, and strengthening relationships with family members and the society.

The centre offers three main services to the elderly:

Day activities: A variety of activities designed for visiting seniors up to 200 persons per day, such as mental and physical exercises, arts and crafts, and hydrotherapy for disease prevention and rehabilitation.

Daycare services: A free senior daycare for families who cannot afford to take care of their elderly during the day, can accommodate up to 20 persons per day.

Temporary lodging: Senior citizens, who have accommodation problems, can spend up to 15 nights at the centre before they are transferred to the care of related agencies. The centre can house up to 30 people overnight.