Developing a Care Model for Older People based on the Community Economy and Local Culture Through Community Participation

Abstract

This participatory action research aimed to develop a care model for older people based on the community economy and local culture through community participation. The purposive sampling  consisted of 30 elderly people, 10 sub-district administrative officers/local community leaders,  1 Registered  nurse, and 10 village health volunteers. The research measurements consisted of 2 parts: 1) general questionnaire 2) a qualitative questionnaire including a semi-structured in-depth interview and focus group and observation. The descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, and mean were applied for quantitative data, however, thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The study was conducted from August 2020 to June 2021.

             The results of the study revealed that most of the older people had 63.7 percent of congenital disease and had an average income of 1,506.7 baht per month. Their main income was from the living allowance payments scheme by government and selling products in the community. There was 26.7% of older people that were unemployed. Most of them had employment demands of 56.7% and has 40 % of the debt. Developing a care model for older people based on the community economy and local culture through community participation was two cycles. There were  four activities as follows; 1) Re-establish and add many activities in a school for older people that the main responsible persons were staff from the Sub-District Administrative Organization together with the Health Promoting Hospital, 2) Promote the cultivation of organic vegetable gardens that the main responsible persons were representative from the Club for Older People and the Health Promotion Hospital, 3) Promote local wisdom on the use of herbs that the main responsible persons were staff from the Health Promotion Hospital, 4) Creating a Community Health Agreement that the main responsible persons were representative from Sub-district Administrative Organization and community leaders.