DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MODEL OF THE ELDERLY IN RURAL AREAS, PHANOM DONG RAK DISTRICT SURIN PROVINCE

Abstract

This Participation Action Research (PAR) research aimed to develop a suitable housing environment management model for older people in rural areas of  Bak Dai Subdistrict, Phanom Dong Rak District, Surin Province, was inducted four processes,1) Meeting with community leaders              2) Determining research instruments 3) Collected quantitative data by questionnaire with 319 elderlies 4) Collected qualitative data through in-depth interviews and group discussions with 26 sample include Care Manager; CM (1 sample), Elderly Caregivers; CG (4 sample), Elderly care workers        (1 sample), and Village health volunteers(20 sample) we selected by purposive sampling.                     We analyzed data in terms of content, frequency distribution, and percentage.

The results found that the suitable housing environment management model for older people in rural areas consisted of 6 configurations. First: Adjust the walkway surface to be smooth, not polished, with no obstacles. Second: Adjust the switch system to turn on and off lights along the walkway to be convenient and safe and provide sufficient lighting. Third: organizing kitchen equipment and containers into categories, with tables and chairs for dining. Fourth: the bathroom and toilet unpolished concrete. Fifth: provide ventilation holes for easy ventilation inside the house.    Sixth: the walkway area outside the house has no obstacles.

Therefore, older people, caregivers, and relevant agencies should prioritize creating a suitable housing environment for older people inside and outside the home to ensure their safety and prevent falls.