The development of community care model of sub-district health promoting hospitals for older persons

Abstract

Thai government is improving public health service systems for better quality and efficiency by upgrading health centers
to sub-district health promoting hospitals (SHPH). Healthcare service for older persons must be holistic service combining
services for consistency with the needs and problems faced by older persons. This study aimed to investigate community
care models of SHPH for older persons in order to manage and provide sustainable care for older persons by using limited
resources with quality.
The study was using design as mixed method. Quantitative data were obtained via questionnaire from 104 healthcare
providers for older persons of each SHPH who had worked more than one year and were selected by stratified sampling
from all thirteen districts of Kanchanaburi Province.The qualitative data were collected from four focus groups of purposive
key informants. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and content analysis. The model was examined by a consensus of
persons involved in the local public hearing.
The results revealed the model called the community care model“SHPH for Older Persons” consist of collaborative
work by four organizations from the government sector with agencies responsible for providing care for older persons.
Every sector must set six strategies and ten factors of success to support SHPH operations in order to provide holistic
care for every older persons. The importance of care, family members and communities must be willing to volunteer and
participate in providing community care for older persons.
The results suggest that The government should set policies and support SHPH, local administrative organizations
including related agencies to build community strength in providing care for older persons by developing the knowledge
of community leaders, enhancing volunteer capacity, enable linkages in the work of every sector to arrange strong elderly
service systems in communities.