FROM AGE-FRIENDLY CITY TO WELLNESS CITY: A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF WELLNESS CITY COMPONENTS FOR OLDER ADULTS IN CHIANG RAI, THAILAND

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the components of a wellness city for older adults in Chiang Rai Province. A mixed-methods design was employed, consisting of a quantitative phase where data were collected from a sample of 500 older adults aged 60 years or over using questionnaires. The quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). In the qualitative phase, data were gathered from 140 key informants through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The quantitative results revealed that the healthy city model for the elderly in Chiang Rai Province consists of five primary components, demonstrating a good fit with the empirical data (χ² = 8.92, df = 4, p = .06, GFI = 0.99, AGFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.05, SRMR = 0.02). These components, ranked by their factor loadings, include: 1) An environmentally sound and ecologically balanced city (0.85), 2) An economically strong and equitable city (0.76), 3) A city with cultural identity (0.74), 4) A democratic city with good governance (0.72), and 5) A healthy and safe city (0.62), model showed a good fit with the empirical data. The qualitative findings confirm that a healthy city is an ecosystem requiring a balance between physical infrastructure and social space. The environmental and economic dimensions serve as vital foundations for reducing dependency, while culture and governance act as social capital that empowers the elderly as active citizens and successors of local wisdom. The core essence lies in eliminating structural barriers and integrating technology to enhance service accessibility. This approach facilitates the design of a city that enables older adults to live independently with dignity and value within their local context, aligning with the National Plan for the Elderly and the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing.