The Community Model Synthesis for Elderly Well-being in Next Normal of Aging Society with Aging Innovators

Abstract

This participatory action research aims to synthesize the community model in next normal of aging society with aging innovators, and compare physical fitness, perceived fragility, local herb literacy, and well-being before and after the model development. The sample group was 30 elderly innovators. The research tools were questionnaires and in-depth interview guidelines. The analytical statistics were percentage, mean, standard deviation, and paired t-test. The qualitative data analyzed by content analysis. The results showed that all samples were females. Most of them were aged 60-69 years, primary school level, have their own residence, live in a single family, income between 2,501-10,000 baht. The synthesized community model revealed that the eminent characteristics of elderly innovators were using their own leadership to persuade members continuingly participate in activities, proactive learning, attentively accept to change, initiate the new things in a revenue-generating way. The involvements who drive aging innovators to evidently perform their duties are local leaders, and health personnel. A 30-hour elderly innovator course was emerged. Elderly innovator Learning Center was consisted of committees organized various activities to maintain member participations and coordinated with local administrators to include projects and activities in the plan for improving the quality of life of the elderly at the sub-district level. After the aging innovator community model development, it was found that blood pressure, muscle strength, traditional herb knowledges, and well-being levels in the aspects of eating, sleeping, self-worth, social worth, and overall well-being levels significantly statistically change.