Preparation for Life in the Elderly of Government Officials under the Ministry of Public Health, Uthai Thani Province

Abstract

This descriptive research study aimed to study the preparation for becoming elderly among government officials in Uthai Thani Public Health office that were between 45-59 years old. We used stratified sampling to recruit 274 participants. We collected the data with interview questionnaires. The questionnaires were examined by a specialist and had good reliability (Cronbach’alpha coefficient = 0.97). Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. We utilized Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and Chi-Square Test: X² – test to identify factors related to preparation to live as a senior person.

            In our sample, 81% of participants were female, 58.39% were married, and 45.99% were professional nurses. Their average age was 51.68 years. The participants had an average monthly  income of 40,049.65 baht and an average debt of 1,069,052 baht. Among participants, 79.20% had moderate health promotion behavior, 64.23% had physical health problems, 45.99% saved money, 37.69% invested in government lottery and underground lottery,62.06% prepared caregiver, and 60.58% reported good acceptance of aging. To preparing their environment for aging, most participants (87.96%) reported widening their door, while lower percentages reported installing a wheelchair ramp (60.58%) and no plan for preparing for social changes (32.21%).  We found associations between age, job position, and sex with preparations to live as a senior (p-value = 0.008, 0.031, 0.016, respectively). We found that sex and marital status were related to preparing a caretaker (p-value = 0.011, 0.029, respectively), We also found the following relationships: 1) Age, income, job position category, and sex related to acceptance of aging (p-value = 0.001, <0.001, 0.004, and <0.001, respectively; 2) Income related to preparing the environment (p-value = 0.006); 3) Marital status, job position category, and income related to preparing for society (p-value = 0.006, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). This study may help government officials prepare for economic changes, investment and saving money of transitioning to elderly life in early work.