Development of the Learning Center for Holistic Elderly Care, Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand

Author(s): Nawasanan Wongprasit

This mixed methods research was aimed to study: 1) The current situation, problems, and guidelines for development of the learning center for holistic elderly care, 2) The success factors affecting development of the learning center for holistic elderly care, and 3) Guidelines for development of the learning center for holistic elderly care. Research participants for a part of qualitative study included 55 people; they were the elderly, elderly families, and the presidents of the sub-district administrative organizations, municipal mayors, directors of sub-district health promoting hospitals, heads of sub-district, village heads, Senior Citizen Clubs, and community health networks in all districts in Chachoengsao Province. The participants were selected to participate into the study through purposive sampling and data were elicited through in-depth interview. The quantitative sample size of 400 people was determined by using the sample calculation formula according to Taro Yamane's table, and the sample was selected by using the stratified random sampling method. Questionnaires were used as tools for data collection. Data were statistically analyzed with frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. Results of the study were showed in the following: 1) The current situation, problems, and guidelines for development of the learning center for holistic elderly care with the participation of relevant parties, it was found that most of the elderly had several health problems, including lack of knowledge in self-care, lack of exercise, joint pain, body deterioration, and underlying diseases. Their psychological problems included feeling lonely and being bored. In economic aspect, they had limited amount of money for regular spending. In social aspect, they were afraid that they would not be taken care by their own children and grandchildren when they became so old that they could not take care of themselves. In environmental aspect, some of their houses were cluttered and untidy. In some spaces, grass was dense and overgrown as high as it could block the view along the road curves. Guidelines for developing the learning center for holistic elderly care should include participatory brainstorming among both the governmental and the public sectors, organizing training to educate and enhance good management factors, implementing the participatory process of all parties, and receiving appropriate support from various agencies, together with the leadership of quality executives; these factors would lead to success. As a result, there should have development in health, economy, safety, and social support which would help to support the development of the holistic elderly care learning center in an effective and successful manner. 2) The success factors for developing the learning center for holistic elderly care, there were three success factors including support from various agencies, management factors, and leadership factors, which had a statistically significant 74.40% impact on the development of the holistic elderly care learning center at the level of .01. 3) The guidelines for development of the holistic elderly care learning center were found that the input success factors included management factors, participation factors, leadership factors and support factors from various organizations. The success factors were based on the 6-step process: 1) Survey needs, 2) Identify the main issues to be implemented, 3) Design appropriate guidelines, 4) Implement the prescribed design, 5) Summarize and report the results, and 6) Build a network to ensure the success and efficiency of the operation that affects the sustainable development of the holistic elderly care learning center.