THE STUDY OF DEMENTIA IN ELDERLY PERSONS IN NAKHON RATCHASIMA PROVINCE

Abstract

              Objective: The objectives of this research were: 1) to study demographic characteristics and the dementia of the elderly persons in municipal area, non-municipal area, and Sub-district administrative organization area in Nakhon Ratchasima Province; 2) to study factors related to the dementia  of the elderly persons in municipal area, non-municipal area, and Sub-district administrative organization area in Nakhon Ratchasima province and; 3) to compare the dementia of the elderly persons in municipal area, non-municipal area, and Sub-district administrative organization area in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

               Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study was used in this research. The sample group was 384 elderly persons determined by the Krejcie and Morgan table. The PRECEDE Model theory was applied to analyze variables and the tool was questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, Chi-square test, and One-Way ANOVA were also used by determining statistical significance at 0.5 level.

               Results: Most of participants were middle-old elderly persons with the average age of 71 years and male. 59.40% of them were farmers and 68.75% had depression at middle level. 51.04% also had dementia at middle level. Independent factors related to the elderly persons' dementia were age, current occupation, occupation before retirement, weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), congenital disorder, vision, diabetes, used to fall down in 3 months ago, having uncomfortable situations, having debts, and household income. The supporting factors related to the dementia of the elderly persons were depression, suicide, and general health conditions. The supplementary factors did not correlate with the dementia of the elderly.

               Conclusion: When comparing the dementia among the elderly persons in Nakhon Ratchasima province in different areas, it was found that there were different conditions of dementia. Elderly persons in the Sub-district administrative organization areas had the dementia more than the elderly persons in the municipal and non-municipal areas with the statistical significance at .05 level.