Improving Quality of Life for the Elderly by Community Participation

Abstract

This action research aimed to study the development of the quality of life of the elderly by community participation in Kut Sai Jor Subdistrict, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham province. The sample group was divided into 2 groups which were 66 elderly people and 26 stake-holders and network partners. Quantitative data was analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Paired t-test and qualitative data used content analysis. The results indicated that most samples were well elder as 85.90%. The elderly had quality of life at a medium level of 84.80%. Due to health related –quality of life, most of them felt little anxious or slightly depressed as 68.4%. After development model was launched, with the participation of the organized community. It was found that the quality of life of the elderly in the society were improved. The elderly who had health problems, had changed their health status better than before. The elderly in the dependent group had good quality of life and health related-quality of life as well. Additionally, all community network partners in the community had participated in the improvement model statistically significance. The key success factors were the participation of the public health agencies and local administrative organizations in the area with the concentration of the development plan and the integration of the budget together. Obviously, strong network association on proactive activities will make efficient and continuous improvement to sustainable.