Development of Elderly Care Guidelines through Community Participation Integration in Phek Yai Subdistrict, Phon District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

This study aimed to explore elderly care conditions and needs, develop elderly care guidelines, and evaluate elderly satisfaction toward community-integrated
care guidelines in Phek Yai Subdistrict, Phon District, Khon Kaen Province. Using participatory action research methods from December 2024 to February 2025, the project was conducted in 3 phases : 1) Preparation phase, involving 110 elderly participants aged 60 and above; 2) Action phase, conducted through one cycle of planning, implementing, observing, and reflecting, involving 10 community stakeholders responsible for elderly care policies and implementation; and 3) Evaluation phase, assessing elderly satisfaction toward community-participated care guidelines. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using percentages, means, and standard deviations, while qualitative data analysis utilized content analysis methods. The findings showed that elderly individuals received physical care at a high level, whereas psychological, social, economic, and spiritual care were provided at a moderate level. Elderly participants expressed care needs across physical, psychological, social, and economic dimensions. Community-integrated participation strengthened the community, leading to comprehensive and sustainable elderly care. The developed care guidelines, termed "Home-Community Collaborative Care," encompassed health care, psychological and social support, economic and occupational assistance, and community collaboration to drive elderly care processes. Elderly satisfaction with the developed care guidelines was very high, with an average satisfaction score of 4.33 (S.D. = 0.59). These research findings could serve as a prototype for elderly care in other communities with similar contexts.