Abstract
The research on “Good models on the elderly care by family and community in rural areas in Thailand” aims to study formats and duplicate the models for the long term care for older persons in the family and services management for the older persons in the community from the models selected as having good service management. A case study were 8 elderly with dependency level 3 and 4 who resided in the sampling areas, namely, Mae Prik Sub-District Administrative Organization, Mae Sua District, Chiang Rai Province, Kao Suan Kwang Sub-District Administrative Organization, Kao Suan Kwang District, Khon Kaen Province, Banpaew Sub-District Administrative Organization, Banpaew District, Samutsakhon Province, and Pakpoon Sub-District Administrative Organization, Muang District, Nakhonsithammarat Province. The data analysis included the content analysis, or analyzing answers gathered from conversations and the thematic analysis. The study results were summarized as follows.
Of all samples, there were 6 females and 2 males. The minimum and maximum ages were 66 and 90 years, respectively, with the mean of 82.87 years. The religion of 7 elderly was Buddhism and another one was Islam. With regard to marriage status, 7 elderly were widow and another one was marriage. All elderly had chronic illness and were not able to rely on or slightly relied on themselves. Main caregivers were children. Methods and techniques of good careing covers 9 indicators, namely, personal hygiene care, medicine management, movement assistance, pressure ulcers care, proper food, feeding, excretion, emotional stability and spirit. Proper management for elderly of communities included 7 indicators, namely, formal and informal care system, strong team, beneficial social capital, solving by creating community recognition, complete elderly database and service evaluation system.
The recommendations from the study are that, at the policy level, the efficiency of the health and social service system at home should be enhanced and the care management system should be established. At the operational level, local services should be developed by creating qualified long-term care teams, and increasing supporting service for families and care tool alternatives. At the family level, the recommendation are seeking knowledge on elderly care and enhancing family members to participate in elderly care. The action research on integrated and proper community care should be conducted and proper indicators should be set.
