The Upgrading the Capabilities of Bang Kla Subdistrict Municipality in Improving the Active Aging of the Elderly Through Participation and Empowerment

Author(s): Nawasanan Wongprasit, Wichit Saengsawang, Eakachai Chaida, Jeerapa Panyakumphol, Penrung Nualcham

This participatory action research (PAR) was aimed at 1) exploring problems and potential of the elderly to participate in developing the active aging of the elderly in Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality, 2) exploring problems and capabilities of leaders in developing the active aging of elderly through participation and empowerment, 3) developing the capabilities of leaders in developing the active aging of the elderly, 4) enhancing the capabilities of Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality in developing the active aging of elderly in terms of health, participation, and security through participation and empowerment, and 5) developing policy recommendations for developing the elderly's active aging. The qualitative sample consisted of 133 local administrators, community leaders, and the elderly, and 94 leaders, using a purposive sampling method. The quantitative sample consisted of 327 elderly people; the sample size was calculated according to the table of Krejci and Morgan and the simple random sampling method was used. The instruments used were in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The statistics used were frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Study results were:

1. Exploring the problems and potential of the elderly to participate in developing the active aging of the elderly in Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality: It was found that the elderly had physical, mental, social and environmental problems. Solutions included training to provide knowledge to take care of yourself and to see a doctor regularly, choosing to eat healthy food, not drinking alcohol and smoking, exercising correctly and regularly, knowing how to manage your own emotions, keeping your mind clear, getting enough rest, having good relationships with neighbors, joining groups to do activities continuously, improving and organizing environment inside their houses suitable for the elderly.

2. Exploring the problems and capabilities of leaders in developing the active aging of the elderly through participation and empowerment: It was found that there were limited number of leaders and they lacked knowledge and understanding about developing the active aging of the elderly through participation and empowerment. It was suggested to have an advice, consultation, application use, managing the environment inside and outside the house to be safe for daily life. Most of the leaders were elderly; they were not able to adapt to the current situation very well. Some were not willing to be leaders. Some still held on to the old culture.

Problem Solving Guidelines: Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality should organize training to increase knowledge so that trainees gained knowledge, understood the power and empowerment, could apply or advise others, establish the Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality Elderly Active Aging Development Center, had the Center’s Management Committee, planned activities that were appropriate for the elderly, should have problem assessment, workshops, practice and home visits, problem analysis training, create community agreements and home visits. The results of developing health leaders would result in increased knowledge.

3. Developing the capabilities of leaders to develop the active aging of the elderly: Based on the problems, the solutions were found for creating the training topics for leaders, with 5 activities: 1) training in psychology to create participation and empower leaders in developing the active aging of the elderly, 2) developing and training a platform to promote participation of the elderly, 3) training on health knowledge for leaders and the elderly, 4) training and improving the management of the environment inside and outside the elderly's houses, and 5) training on occupational skills to create additional income. Then, the leaders would pass it on and give advice to the elderly while visiting their homes or meeting at various community meetings.

4. Enhancing the capabilities of Bangkhla Subdistrict Municipality to develop the active aging of the elderly in terms of health, participation and security through participation and empowerment: It was found that, from the survey of the questionnaire on the development of the potential of the elderly of Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality before and after organizing 5 activities, the scores of the capability enhancement of Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality for the developing the active aging of the elderly by participating and empowering leaders and the elderly were at the high level in overall. The ranking scores from the highest to lowest average were as follows: the activity of training in psychology to create participation and empowerment for leaders, the activity of health training, the activity of vocational training to generate income, the activity of training on the management of the environment inside and outside the elderly's houses, and the activity of the platform to promote the participation of the elderly. For all activities, the elderly had an average overall satisfaction of 85 % and had higher knowledge after the training than before the training. As for the score of the potential of the elderly, it was higher than before the activity.

5. Developing policy recommendations for the development of the elderly's potential: It was found that the executives of Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality recognized the significance of the vitality of the elderly and proposed the establishment of the Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality's vitality promotion center, which had never existed before. An MOU was signed with relevant agencies to jointly develop the center and organize activities to develop the active aging of the elderly in the center every month, including Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University, the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, Bang Khla Hospital, and Bang Khla Subdistrict Municipality.