Guidelines for Development of Quality of Life the Elder in Bang Nang Community, Panthong District, Chonburi Province

Abstract

          The objectives of this qualitative research were: 1) to study problems relating to a quality of life of the elderly in Bang-Nang community, Panthong district, Chonburi province; 2) to study a quality of life’s patterns of the elderly in Bang-Nang community and 3) to propose guidelines for improving a quality of life of the elderly in Bang-Nang community. Data were collected through an in-depth interview and a focused-group discussion. The participants of this study were divided into 3 groups including (1) the elderly who are during 60-75 years old, (2) the group who are public health officers, villagers, and community leaders, and (3) the elderly, academics, and community leaders who participated in a focused-group discussion. A research tool used for data collection was a guide of in-depth interview questions.

       The study found that:

1. According to problems about a quality of life of the elderly, the study showed that the elderly living in Bang-Nang community are confused, forgetful, or think slowly. Further, there is an increasing number of health problems of the elderly (e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, heart stroke, etc.). Moreover, economic problems of Thailand have affected a community economy. In addition, most residences of the elderly are in an unhygienic condition. Finally, there is no appropriate areas provided for recreation (e.g. a sport field, a relaxing site, a playground, or a public park) of people within a community.
2. Owing to the elderly’s quality of life development, the researcher viewed that a quality of life of the elderly is usually developed by concerning government sectors. Therefore, the elderly is a group of people who are only waiting for the assistance made by concerning organizations. The elderly does not assemble and there is no participatory process of a community to improve the elderly’s quality of life. Thus, the elderly’s quality of life in Bang-Nang community has not been developed continuously and sustainably as it should be. Mostly, the elderly’s quality of life development in Bang-Nang community is depended on budgets and policies of the government. If there is no budget or related policy from the government to develop the elderly’s quality of life, the elderly’s quality of life development in Bang-Nang community will be discontinuous during that time. As a result, the quality of life development model for the elderly in Bang-Nang community is not good as it should be.

           3. According to guidelines for the quality of life development of the elderly, it is recommended that the elder should be provided with exercising activities. Next, information about sufficiency economy should be given to the elderly to make them to be reasonable and sufficient as an immunization. Further, an occupational group should be established to increase the elderly’s income. Also, activities for the elderly should be prepared. Finally, the government should provide outstanding policies about the elderly’s social welfare. According to the elderly’s social welfare management, the 4 projects should be promoted. Firstly, a project concerns the elderly’s health including behavioral modification projects should be promoted to solve problems of diabetes and blood pressure of the elderly. Secondly, an economic project including sub-projects to develop and support for the agricultural profession of agriculturist and sufficiency economy should be also promoted. Third is a project to repair residences of the elderly, disadvantaged people, and poor and needy people. Finally, recreational projects to support and promote Songkran Festival and the elderly’s water-pouring ceremony should be provided.