The Preparation for Entering the Aging Society A Case study of Wat Sai Sub-district, Mueang Nakhon Sawan District, Nakhon Sawan Province

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were 1) to investigate the preparation for entering the aging society, 2) to compare different factors associated with the preparation for entering the aging society, and 3) to study the guidelines for preparing for the aging society. The research used a mixed methods research as the research design. The population was 6,125 people aged 40-59 years. The sample size was 400 people, obtained based on a convenience sampling. Data were also collected from 10 interviewees through interview, obtained based on a purposive sampling. Questionnaire and interview were used as research instrument for data collection. Data collected were then analyzed using statistics to determine frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test and One way ANOVA. The results of this study indicated as follows:
          1. Overall preparation for entering aging society was at the high level (x̄ = 3.558, S.D. = .400).
          2. The sample with different factors had indifferent preparation for entering aging society with a statistical significance level of 0.05, rejecting the set hypothesis.
          3. Guidelines for preparing to enter the aging society included that 1) physical health should be promoted through nutritional health care, exercise, and abstention, 2) financial and property should be promoted through savings, reduction in expenses and management of debt burden before retirement, 3) residence should be considered by improving housing to suit the elderly and 4) post-retirement working should be considered by reducing the workload of the elderly and identifying a suitable job for the elderly.