Development and Upgrading of Quality of Life According to Psychological Buddhist Principles for the Elderly in Social Welfare Care at the Local Level in Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

This research aims to 1) analyze the current issues regarding the quality of life for the elderly under local social welfare services in Khon Kaen province, 2) develop and enhance the quality of life for the elderly in accordance with psychological Buddhist principles within local social welfare services in Khon Kaen, and 3) implement the development and enhancement of the elderly’s quality of life based on psychological Buddhist in local welfare services in Khon Kaen. Data was collected using questionnaires from 376 elderly individuals residing in the Silala municipality, Khon Kaen province. The research tool employed a 5-point Likert scale with content validity ranging from 0.80 to 1.00, and a reliability score of 0.980. Statistical analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and used a One Group Pretest-Posttest Design with t-test (dependent samples). The key informants included representatives from the National Office of Buddhism, the Silala municipality, and the elderly club in Silala, with 15 individuals selected through purposive sampling. The tool used for qualitative data was an interview, and the data was analyzed descriptively. The research findings revealed that: 1. The overall behavior of developing and enhancing the elderly’s quality of life based on psychological Buddhist was at a moderate level with an average score of 3.31. The overall perception of this development was also moderate with an average score of 3.27. 2. In terms of opinions on the development and enhancement of the elderly’s quality of life under local social welfare services, health and medical care scored highly with an average of 4.26, income scored 4.14, housing scored 4.14, recreation scored 4.22, and social security, family, caregivers, and protection scored 4.11 on average. 3. A significant statistical difference was found at the 0.05 level between pre- and post-test results for the overall development and enhancement of the elderly’s quality of life under local social welfare services. 4. Based on data collected through interviews with the elderly in the area, clear issues and needs were identified, particularly in terms of increasing recreational activities such as singing, listening to music, listening to Dhamma stories, and engaging in appropriate exercise. Additionally, these opinions reflect the desire for greater participation of the elderly in a variety of activities, fostering a sense of belonging in society, such as providing mental health support and allocating suitable spaces for social gatherings.