PUBLISHED ONOctober 09, 2026 2:30 AMBYLim KeweiA Thai care home found to have used metal-bar enclosures around residents' beds has been shut down by authorities, though controversy continues to swirl around the family dispute that brought the facility to public attention.
Sothornchai Nursing Home in Kanchanaburi province came under scrutiny and was accused of mistreatment and abuse by a woman known as Mae Phat, who appeared on the popular Thai television programme Hone Krasae on Oct 5.
Mae Phat, 63, told programme presenters that her son, Benz, had organised her "abduction" and confined her to the facility against her will for over two years, in an attempt to take control of her business and assets.
The mother claimed she was treated as a psychiatric patient. She alleged being restrained with handcuffs at times and forced to take sleeping pills, The Thaiger reported.
The allegations prompted authorities to investigate the elder care home, where an inspection found residents sleeping within caged beds. Other quarters were similarly fenced with steel bars or a wire grid.
Mae Phat returned to Hone Krasae for a follow-up episode, with the show bringing in her son and daughter-in-law for an interview the following day.
Pressed by presenters for the reason behind sending Mae Phat to the home, Benz insisted that he was unaware of the facility's living conditions and care methods.
Mae Phat grows visibly distressed as she listened quietly from the side, bringing her hands up to cover her eyes and face multiple times.
When the programme flashed images of the caged beds on screen, Benz begins to cry.
Seemingly overwhelmed with guilt, he walks over to Mae Phat's seat and kneels before her in apology.
Mae Phat, also in tears, is seen caressing her son, who remains bowed over on the ground for at least three minutes. The episode ends there.
The licence of Sothornchai Nursing Home was officially revoked on Oct 7, reported The Bangkok Post.
However, the bad blood between mother and son appears to be far from over.
On Oct 8, Mae Phat lodged a police report against her son, the alleged abductors and individuals involved in the care centre, according to Thai media outlet Khaosod.
She told reporters she believes her son was not remorseful, and that she plans to pursue legal action against him.
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