Mental Health Promotion for the Abandoned Elderly in Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

           The purpose of this research was to analyze the level of mental health of the abandoned elderly to study of factors related to mental health level of abandoned elderly in Phitsanulok and to develop the mental health promotion model of the abandoned elderly in the Phitsanulok area. The population used in the study were elderly people who abandoned in Phitsanulok Province by random sampling from 167 eligible population using multi-stage sampling method. Tools used were questionnaires. Data were analyzed by percentage, mean and ordinary logistic analysis. Step 2 was the model for promoting mental health among the abandoned elderly.   

            The research found that the majority of the elderly were female 59.9 percent.      The elderly had a high level of mental health score of 17.4 percent, moderate level of 63.5 percent and low level of 19. percent. Factors related to mental health with the statistical significance (p-value <0.05)  was age, occupation, past, income, financial status, convalescence, smoking, regular drug use, punctuality, vision and walking and mental health promotion processes of the elderly consist of four steps: 1) development of mental health promotion potential; 2) mental health promotion modification; 3) environmental management; for mental health promotion; and 4) support from outside family and health personnel in mental health promotion should take this process to enhance the mental capacity of the neglected elderly.