Movement Process Wellbeing of the Elderly Buddhist Integration of the Nakhon Phanom

Abstract

The purposes of this research were these: 1) to study the health promotion process of the elderly according to the Buddha Dharma principles in Nakhon phanom Province, and 2) to study how to integrate the Buddha Dharma principles with the health promotion of the elderly in Nakhon Phanom Province. It was a qualitative research.
A research sample of 105 monks/people consisted of 21 monks, 12 hospital staff, 12 village health volunteers, 15 community administrators, and 45 elderly people in the research area. Research instrument was an open-ended questionnaire that collected data through interviews and focus group discussions with persons concerned. A descriptive analysis was used for analyzing the data.
The results showed that:
1. There are 4 processes for promoting the health of the elderly according to Buddhism. Firstly, providing knowledge and concepts to realize the importance of one's own body and mind in the form of self-reliance. Secondly, self-care such as food, excretion, and dress appropriately visiting elderly people who are self-reliance but love and the attention of the offspring is a key force that promotes the well-being of the elderly. Forthly, the creation of public empowerment. It is one movement that promotes physical and mental health for the elderly such as the overnight chanting on new year project, Traditional Buddhist, Phra That Phanom Worship Ceremony.
2. Methods for integrating Buddhism and promoting health for the elderly Nakhon Phanom Province according to the four bhavanas the body Bhavana places the mind on one's own physical even the physical moves and physical pain. With the feeling of the body consciously that is, the moral development, the determination to keep the body, speech, and mind with in the framework of the Five Precepts every day; Peace of mind is creation of merit will result in a happy body and mind, intellectual development is the emotional control by trusting to see the law of truths, and things are common, namely old age, sickness, death, and detachment from things beloved, a cause and effect that no one can escape. Creating good karma by taking into account one's mind and body is essential. It is to promote good health of the elderly. The tools used are patience, perseverance, which are the qualities of a person who have four bhavanas.