BUDDHADHAMMA APPLICATION FOR ELDERLY LIFE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OF MUNICIPALITY IN PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA

Abstract

Objectives of this research article were: 1. to study the development of the quality of life of the elderly in municipalities in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, 2. to examine the factors that affected such development, and 3. to apply Buddhist principles to enhance the quality of life of the elderly. The study employed a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative research collected data from a sample group of 394 individuals using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, with a reliability coefficient of 0.987. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with 18 key informants (monks or laypersons) and focus group discussions with 9 participants (monks or laypersons) to validate the knowledge obtained from data synthesis.

The findings revealed that: 1. the development of the quality of life of the elderly in municipalities in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province comprised five aspects, with three key areas of operation: management, environment, and social relationships. Overall, the implementation was at a high level. When each aspect was considered individually, all were at a high level, ranked as follows: environment, social relationships, physical health, mental health, and life security. 2. The factors that influenced the development of the quality of life of the elderly were effective management, particularly leadership and organizational arrangement, which accounted for 37 percent, and the Fourfold Cultivation (bhavana), especially moral cultivation (sila-bhavana) and wisdom cultivation (panya-bhavana), which accounted for 15.5 percent. 3. The application of Buddhist principles to develop the quality of life of the elderly was an integration of management and the Fourfold Cultivation, emphasizing participatory strategic planning, a clear organizational structure, and the use of information technology alongside the holistic development of the elderly in physical, mental, social, and intellectual dimensions through activities such as exercise, relationship building, mental development based on Buddhist teachings, and the exchange of wisdom. This approach reflected the integration of effective management and Thai philosophy for holistic and sustainable development.