The Development of a Long-term Care Model for the Dependent Elderly with Network Partners’ Participation in Si Racha District, Chon Buri Province

Abstract

This action research aimed to develop a long term care model for the dependent elderly with network partners’ participation in Si Racha district, Chon Buri province. It was conducted from October 2022 to September 2024. Participants came from four groups of stakeholders, including 1) Network Partners (24 people for qualitative data); 2) Village health volunteers / Caregivers (325 people via stratified random sampling); 3) Network Partners (182 people stratified random sampling); and 4) Dependent elderly (147 people purposive sampling). Quantitative data was collected via a quality-of-life assessment, a health literacy questionnaire, and a participation questionnaire. The reliability of the research Instruments was verified through reliability with Cronbach's alpha coefficients, which were 0.84, 0.93 and 0.95, respectively. Qualitative data was collected via in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The effectiveness of the developed model was assessed using paired t-tests at the 0.05 significance level. Content analysis was used to examine the qualitative data.

               The results showed that the developed model was implemented using the CO-CARING model, which consists of 8 elements; 1) Community Engagement; 2) Organization Collaboration; 3) Care Planning; 4) Active Participation; 5) Resource Sharing; 6) Integration of Services; 7) Networking & Communication; and 8) Governance & Evaluation. The quality of life for the dependent elderly, the overall level of network partners participation, health literacy, and long term care for the dependent elderly were significantly higher after the development and participation in the long-term care model that was developed (p-value <0.001). Therefore, the network partners’ participation in setting common goals and measures helped to improve the dependent elderly’s quality of life. The dependent elderly being taken care of by local health insurance funds to receive services according to the benefit package. The elderly and relatives received care for physical, mental, emotional, and first aid. Additionally, participants were satisfied with the existing long-term care system for dependent elderly in Si Racha district, Chon Buri province.