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Read the following story by Melalin Mahavongtrakul from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Thailand is an ageing society. As defined by the United Nations, this is when more than ten percent of a country’s population is elderly. This article looks at this relatively new market and some of the products and services available for senior citizens today.
FULLY-FURNISHED
Having a suitable place for elderly people to live comfortably is an important social concern. In recent years, to meet this social need, housing-development projects for the elderly have started to spring up around the country.
Villa Meesuk Residences in Chiang Mai opened two years ago. The housing development offers condominiums, private villas, a nursing home and a clinic with 24-hour care from on-site nurses.
In developing this living space, Sasiwimol Singhanetr, director of Villa Meesuk, said the team adopted a concept of universal design that would be easily accessible to all, regardless of age and ability. They fitted ramps for wheelchairs, sliding doors, emergency bells, non-slippery floors, rails in bathrooms and more.
For Bangkokians who would prefer something a little closer to the capital, Thonburi Healthcare Group has been developing their equivalent. Soon, they will be ready to unveil Jin Wellbeing County, its own residential complex for the elderly, in Pathum Thani.
ROBOT FRIEND
Modern life puts demands on all of the family. This means it can be difficult to personally care for older members. Most of the time, an elderly person is left at home alone, with limited interaction and activities throughout the day.
To assist in care, CT Asia Robotics introduced the Dinsow Mini last year as a companion for those who are mostly confined to bed. The robot provides many functions. It can call family members automatically, notify caretakers when the elderly person wakes up, remind them to exercise and even offer words of dhamma.
Chalermpol Punnotok — CEO of CT Asia Robotics — feels that robots can take on an even greater role in caring for the elderly. He says they plan to launch a new Dinsow model at the end of this year. This latest line of elderly assistance will be able to serve food and water, check blood pressure and body temperature, keep them company and follow them around the house.
HOT WHEELS
For the wheelchair-bound, going places can be a difficult task. Just getting in and out of the car is no simple matter.
In recent years, one innovation that has made this process much easier is the electric lifter chair (or hoist chair). This is a seat with a hydraulic system and sensor that can lift wheelchair-bound people in and out of the car easily. Some models come with a detachable seat that can double as a wheelchair, offering both the elderly and caregiver trouble-free travel.
“The feedback has been very good,” said Nirun Sengiam, managing director at NR Autoseats, who has been developing the chairs in Thailand for more than a decade. He’s currently developing chairs and systems to suit smaller vehicles such as Honda Freed and Sienta to offer more alternatives for customers.
SECTION 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. How Thai people respect the elderly.
b. A detailed analysis of an ageing society.
c. Products and services for the elderly.
2. Which of the following is TRUE of Jin Wellbeing County?
a. It opened two years ago.
b. It’s been built to serve residents of Bangkok.
c. It’s located in Thonburi.
3. According to the article, which of the following functions can the Dinsow Mini perform?
a. Do exercise.
b. Serve food and water.
c. Send alerts to caretakers.
4. Which of the following is TRUE of Nirun Sengiam’s lifter chair?
a. It has to be operated manually.
b. It currently only serves smaller vehicles.
c. He has been working on them for over ten years.
5. According to the article, Villa Meesuk Residences provides which of the following?
a. Medical assistance.
b. A robot helper.
c. Private pools.
SECTION 2
Read the story and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
6. More than one out of every ten Thai people is elderly.
………………….
7. Sasiwimol Singhanetr lives at Villa Meesuk Residences.
………………….
8. Villa Meesuk Residences was designed to be easy to get around.
………………….
9. A new Dinsow model will be launched next year.
………………….
10. The Dinsow Mini can recite Buddhist teachings.
………………….
SECTION 3
Specify whether each of the following words is used in the story as a verb, noun, preposition, adjective or adverb.
11. caretaker
…………………
12. around
…………………
13. soon
…………………
14. exercise
…………………
15. residential
…………………
SECTION 4
Read through the passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
Nirvana Asia Group, founded in 1990 in Malaysia, has been trying to reinvent the concept of burial plots …..16….. the past 27 years, aiming for …..17….. to be attractive to both the dead …..18….. the living, and true to feng shui. The company has built over 17 memorial parks around the world. One of its latest …..19….. is now being constructed at Ban Bueng, Chon Buri, with an area of 253 rai due for …..20….. in 2020.
16.
a. for
b. of
c. in
17.
a. them
b. they
c. their
18.
a. or
b. nor
c. and
19.
a. site
b. sited
c. sites
20.
a. completely
b. completion
c. complete
SECTION 5
Write down the adjective forms of the following words used in the story in the space provided.
21. innovation
………………………
22. system
………………………
23. body
………………………
24. notice
………………………
Answers
Section 1
1. c.
2. b.
3. c.
4. c.
5. a.
Section 2
6. True.
7. False.
8. True.
9. False.
10. True.
Section 3
11. Noun.
12. Preposition.
13. Adverb.
14. Verb.
15. Adjective.
Section 4
16. a.
17. a.
18. c.
19. c.
20. b.
Section 5
21. Innovative.
22. Systematic.
23. Bodily.
24. Noticeable.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
