CIRCUMSTANCES AND ISSUES OF HEALTH CARE FOR THAI HOMEBOUND ELDERLY

บทคัดย่อ

The number of homebound elderly is rising dramatically in Thailand, but they are an understudied population which is undiscovered in research and impropriate in health service which is emphasized the development process for social stability. The purpose of this research was to study the situations about health care of Thai home bound elderly in perspectives of elderly, caregiver and health care provider. The researcher used descriptive research by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The population were the 332 homebound elderly in 30 communities in an area of Mueang Maha- Sarakham Municipality. The data collecting methods was questionnaire, group discussion and brainstorming. The result showed that most sample groups were females at 64.4 percent, quality levels of general health as medium level, diseases diabetes at 87.3 percent followed by the high blood pressure (hypertension) at 81.9 percent and Arthritis/Gout/Rheumatoid/Joint Pain at 76.8 percent and the elderly need more knowledge and updated information to support themselves. The result reviewed the significant information for the stakeholder to developed the appropriate health care for homebound elderly group in Thailand context.