Health Status and Self Management among Elderly People Who Need Home Care Service

Abstract

The objective of this qualitative research is to investigate health status and self management among elderly people in Kantharawichai District, Mahasarakham Province where has been changed to an aging society. Data was collected from selected 42 illness or disability elderly people and 42 family care givers through in-depth interviews, participatory and non-participatory observations between February and May 2021.

          There were found that firstly, health status having 3 components: 1) Bedridden elderly, there were 25 elderly bed-bound patients who living with cerebrovascular stenosis and diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease. 2) Home based elderly, there were 13 elderly home-crawlers due to falling, hip dislocated and spondylolisthesis. 3) Disability elderly, there were 4 elderly who living with handicapped and blind. Secondly, self management, there were found that all elderly persons received improper self management such as; 1) Not taken to see doctor due to difficult travel and relatives bought medicine to them instead. 2) Being adjusted their home environment following the family effort, lay down on open space 1st floor with hand-made bed near the toilet to access easily water. 3) The family provided food as it was possible, not limited to sugary, oily and salty foods following the illness. 4) Did not exercise due to difficulty by caregiver. 5) Unable to deep sleep without assisted of sedative pills and 6) Exercise their mind by turning on the radio, listening to the chants and traditional local song (Mor Lam).

Finally, based on finding we found that elderly had not well managed their health. Therefore, next study should be conducted to develop guidelines to care older people to receive advices from local authorities and continually increase the welfare of home screening physical therapy and appropriate housing conditions.