Promoting the Well-being of the Elderly Through Local Wisdom in Thung Kwao Subdistrict, Mueang Phrae District, Phrae Province

การส่งเสริมสุขภาวะผู้สูงอายุด้วยภูมิปัญญาพื้นบ้าน ตำบลทุ่งกวาว อำเภอเมืองแพร่ จังหวัดแพร่

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to 1. explore the current conditions, problems, causes, and needs related to elderly health care, 2. study the promotion of elderly well-being through the integration of academic principles and local wisdom, and 3. propose a process for promoting elderly well-being through local wisdom in Thung Kwao subdistrict, Mueang Phrae district, Phrae province. The data were gathered from 18 key informants and 10 focus group participants using a structured in-depth interview form. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis to address the research objectives.

The research Finding

1. Problem conditions, causes, and requirements for health care for the elderly related to chronic diseases that have accumulated since working age, such as diabetes, hypertension, hearing and vision issues that cause a lack of confidence in communication, economic problems and financial burdens; social and psychological issues, such as loneliness and a lack of social participation because their children work in other areas, infrastructure and technological issues; and the fact that long-term care service systems are still not widely available.

1. Promoting the health of the elderly based on academic principles integrated with local wisdom, consisting of the dimensions shown below: physical size, encouraging physical activities to improve strength and lower the risk of chronic illnesses, such as walking, gardening, or group exercise. Mental and emotional aspects, include adjusting to bodily changes, retiring, losing loved ones, and playing fewer social duties. Social dimension: Elderly people who are respected, play a part in sharing local knowledge or volunteering, believe their lives are important, and have better mental health. Intellectual and cultural dimension: Elderly people want to be accepted and have a purposeful outlook on life. It makes them feel proud to be able to share their experiences. Elderly-friendly environments include secure residences with green areas and a social climate that is encouraging to senior citizens.
2. The process of promoting health among the elderly using local wisdom, a method of developing health-promoting activities with a focus on participatory development that is in line with community realities and cultural origins. It operates as a cycle of collaborative learning, starting with 1) Collaborative evaluation, which makes it possible for all parties to comprehend the actual circumstances of the elderly, including their physical and mental health as well as current local knowledge. 2) The creation of a community working team that will act as a focal point for organizing resources and ideas. 3) Creating wisdom-based activities that complement other activities while taking into account the lifestyle and preferences of the elderly. 4) Enhancing the home environment to make it safer and more mobile. 5) Training and knowledge transfer to improve the ability of senior citizens and caregivers by offering integrated information that combines scientific principles with local wisdom. 6) Monitoring, assessment, and scaling up to spread results more widely and reflect changes that take place.