The Ergonomics Innovation Management for Elderly Safety in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province

Abstract

Background: Older adults experience declines in physical, mental, social, and spiritual health, and environments often fail to meet their changing needs. This can cause difficulty with daily activities, safety issues, and a higher risk of accidents, falls, and serious injuries that could be fatal, with cascading impacts on family and social economics. Applying ergonomic principles when designing environments to accommodate the physical abilities and needs of seniors is essential. It helps maintain free movement, reduces reliance on others, and improves quality of life.

Objectives: 1) To study the safety management situation for the elderly in Hua Hin District; 2) To identify safety management problems; and 3) To present ergonomics management innovations for the safety of the elderly in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

Methods: This study is qualitative research conducted in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. It involved both participatory and non-participatory observations. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants using semi-structured interview guides (CVI = 0.96) until data saturation was reached. The participants were divided into three groups: policymakers, practitioners, and elderly individuals, along with their caregivers. Participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Data collection took place from January 2026 to March 2026.

Results: Key informants included 23 individuals. Data analysis reveals three core insights: 1) A Multi-Level Policy Framework with a clear Policy-Practice Gap; 2) Five safety management problems including physical environmental risk factors, physical capacity limitations, monitoring system gaps, the need for family/community participation, and demand for context-appropriate innovations; and 3) The proposed innovation "E-Safe Hua Hin" or HEESM (Hua Hin Ergonomics for Elderly Safety Model) comprises five main components: (H) Hazard Assessment, (E) Environment Design based on Universal Design principles, (E) Exercise & Capacity Enhancement, (S) Smart Surveillance using IoT/AI, and (M) Multi-stakeholder Network. The innovation accommodates both local elderly residents and long-stay tourists, aligning with Hua Hin's strategy as a global wellness tourism destination.

Conclusion: The HEESM innovation and Single Data Platform represent integrated management innovations combining interdisciplinary knowledge in humanities, environment, technology, and society. They effectively reduce fall risk and improve safety for the elderly by shifting the paradigm toward proactive, elderly-centered care. The Single Data Platform ensures continuous and sustainable surveillance and can serve as a model for other coastal tourism cities. This approach benefits not only elderly residents but also reduces the burden on caregivers and local public health budgets, contributing to the development of local and national health policies.