Elderly School and Quality of Life Development in Phiboonmangsaharn Municipality, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study the operations of the elderly school in Phiboonmangsaharn municipality, 2) study the students’ quality of life and, 3) study the opportunities for improving the operation of the school as well as an appropriate way to develop the older persons’ quality of life. This research applied mixed methods in gathering information. A set of questionnaires were applied to gather quantitative data derived from ninety-nine students who had registered in 2017. In-depth interview was applied to collect qualitative data from thirteen participants including the school’s executives, the members of the student committee, and the municipal officials. In-class activities were also observed. Quantitative data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, and t-test by limiting the level of significance at 0.05. Content analysis and classification was applied to analyze qualitative data which were then presented in description. The elderly school in Phiboonmangsaharn municipality, established in 2016, was initiated by the older persons club and the bicycle club in Phiboonmangsaharn. The fifty-two-week curriculum of the school, consisted of six courses, had been supported by the local health fund, Phiboonmangsaharn municipality, and other affiliations. According to the sample population whose 42.4 percent were male while 55.6 percent were female, this research found that most of the participants aged between 61 and 70 were healthy. There were a small number of participants who had chronic health conditions such as diabetes, and high blood pressure. Most of them received their income from their children and subsistence allowance. Overall, the older persons’ quality of life was high (4.51 percent). Considering in terms of income, the older persons’ quality of life in every aspect was high. The quality of life in physical, mental, social, and intelligent aspects could be presented as 4.48, 4.56, 4.50, and 4.40 respectively. It was found that there was no correlation between gender and the quality of life; however, quality of life was correlated to age, income, occupation, and marital status. The students suggested that consistency supports for job training, health care services, and procedure budget for continuing the program from Phiboonmangsaharn municipality be an appropriate approach to improve the older persons’ quality of life.