This study examined family support for the elderly in Thailand. Data were obtained from the Survey of the Welfare of Elderly in Thailand (SWET), a 1995 nationally representative sample of 4486 persons aged over 60 years. Findings were compared to 1986 and 1994 surveys of the elderly. All survey populations lived in private households. Findings indicate that in the 1990 census 76-77% of the elderly lived with one of their children. This figure was 74.2% in the 1995 SWET and 79.7% in the 1986 Socio-Economic Consequences of the Aging Population in Thailand (SECAPT) survey. In 1995, 4.4% were elderly with no children, a slight increase over 1986 and 1994 data. In 1995, 11.9% lived with a spouse only and 4.3% lived alone. Around 90%, in 1986 and 1995, coresided with a child or saw a child daily. 84.%, in 1995, coresided or lived next door to a child. In 1995, 50.7% lived with an ever-married child, and 33.2% lived with a single child. 36.3% lived with a son, and 49.3% lived with a daughter. More elderly lived with an ever-married daughter than an ever-married son (34% vs. 20%). Almost 50% of the Thai elderly lived in a 3-generation household. Many more non-coresident children gave food or clothes in exchanges with parents. Daily or weekly exchanges occurred mostly for those who lived near their parents. Yearly exchanges were fairly frequent. Money exchanges flowed in both directions, although children were more likely to be givers. Most elderly maintained at least occasional social contact with a variety of kin. In 1990, only 1.8% of the elderly lived in institutions, of which 86% were monks in temples.