Findings from the Process of Promoting Career Creation for the Elderly in Tha Kham Sub-District Municipality Chon Daen District and Na Ngua Sub-district Mueang Petchabun District Phetchabun Province

Abstract

This academic article aims to present the findings from an initiative promoting supplementary occupations for the elderly in Tha Kham Subdistrict Municipality and Nang Ngua Subdistrict, Phetchabun Province. The program involved crafting herbal inhaler bottle dolls and exquisite artificial funeral flowers (Dok Mai Chan), implemented as part of a research project in 2020, with subsequent sustainability monitoring conducted in 2021 and 2023. The findings indicate that during the initial project implementation in 2020, the elderly exhibited high enthusiasm and a strong desire to generate supplementary income to alleviate economic disparity. However, follow-up monitoring in 2021 and 2023 revealed that these activities failed to scale commercially or transition into consistent supplementary occupations. The lack of long-term project impact was attributed to several structural constraints and negative factors identified during the monitoring phase, including age-related physical decline, health issues, family caregiving burdens, a lack of funding and target markets, and a competitive disadvantage in production capacity compared to the working-age population. Consequently, this study proposes a paradigm shift in organizing activities within elderly schools. It recommends de-emphasizing commercial career development and shifting the focus toward recreational therapy integrated with the Selection, Optimization and Compensation (SOC) Model. This framework encourages older adults to adapt to their functional limitations while fostering social interaction, enhancing self-esteem and promoting psychological well-being based on their individual capacities an approach that aligns with the nature of elderly learning and sustainable quality-of-life enhancement.