Self –care Behaviors among Elderly under Healthy Thailand Strategy in Ban Nhong Boua, Nhongyai Sub-district, Stuk District, Burerum Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to examine elder’s self –care behaviors as guided by the Thailand’s Healthy Lifestyle Strategic Plan and factors supporting self-care behaviors among the elderly. The sample consisted of 70 elders in Ban Nong Bua Village, Burirum Province. The data were collected by oral questionnaires and then analyzed for descriptive statistics.

The findings were as follows. The elders rated their self -care behaviors as highly appropriate according to the plan. Further analysis of individual aspects of the strategic plan showed that the elderly’s self -care behaviors in diet, emotion, exercise, disease reduction, environmental health and temptation for gambling were rated as highly appropriate. But it was also found that in terms of emotion, however, there were some issues. For instance, when feeling discouraged, depressed, or sad the elderly respondents never talked to their family or neighbors (at the 24.3% level). Therefore, families or caregivers should talk and seek activities for the elderly to work together with the family members. Overall, factors supporting self-care behaviors in the elderly were perceived as of a high level. This holds true for each individual behavioral aspects. Therefore, government agencies responsible for the elders’ wellbeing should support and promote health-promoting activity regularly among the elderly to help them achieve a sense of self-esteem and become more engaged in self- care behaviors in order to reduce their future dependence on others.