Cooperative Learning Process between Elderly and Caregivers to Improve Indoor and Outdoor Environmental Determinants on the Safety Houses in Roi Et and Loei Provinces

Abstract

The purposes of this action research were 1) to determine the indoor and outdoor environmental situations of the elderly’s households, 2) to compare the numbers of the accidents before and after the implementation, 3) to compare the knowledge scores in environmental management of the elderly and the caregivers before and after the implementation, and 4) to investigate cooperative learning process between the elderly and their care givers to improve indoor and outdoor environmental determinants on the safety houses for elderly. The data collected in this study were done through surveys, interviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussions. The samples included 618 elderly aged 60 years and over who were categorized into 2 groups: independent and semi-dependent elderly, 319 elderly caregivers, and 725 elderly’s houses located in Roi Et and Loei provinces. Statistics used included percentages, t-tests, and content analyses.

The study found that: 70.9 percent of elderly’s squat toilets did not have safety bars while 98.5 percent of elderly’s toilets did not install holding bars. Most accidents (70%) occurred with elderly were fallings and 30.9 percent of the accidents took place in their own bedrooms. In terms of cooperative learning processes between the elderly and their caregivers to Improve indoor and outdoor environmental determinants on the safety houses for elderly, the activities to promote their cooperation were as follows: 1) group discussions between elderly and their caregivers, 2) group discussions among volunteers, health officers and related staff, 3) meetings with related groups and organizations to present results from the first phrase of the study, 4) organizing AIC (Appreciation Influence and Control) meetings, 5) arranging workshops on indoor and outdoor environmental determinants on the safety houses, 6) educating elderly on appropriate and safety environments in elderly community schools, and 7) organizing sharing sessions at the regional level on this issue. Comparison of elderly’s and their caregivers’ knowledge of environmental management in elderly and caregivers before and after the implementations show a statistically significant difference at p=0.00. It is suggested that the elderly and caregivers must play an important role in improvement of indoor and outdoor environment with intensive supports from the relevant organizations.