Model Development for Health Promotion in the Elderly Participating in Communities

Abstract

Problem statement: The problem of the research derives from a lack of research study to develop the suitable model for health promotion in the elderly and examine factors concerning the health promotion in the elderly. This research aimed to study and develop suitable health promotion model for elderly participating in communities and examine factors related to the health promotion of the elderly. Approach: The samples were 654 older people. This study was participatory action research including many stages which were situation analysis, action and assessment. The explored location was the area of Nonsa-ad Sub-District, Nong Ruea District, Khon Kaen Province. Results: The results of the study led to the process of health promotion for the elderly participating in the communities in the action stage including the participation of the communities, local administrative organizations and government agencies consisting of health service centers and department of social development and human security to drive the thinking of the elderly and push it into real practice. The activities for the health promotion were health check-up, home visit of volunteers and public health staff, exercise, having suitable food, stress management, adequate sleep, avoidance to alcohol, steroids, smoking, accidents and resistance to hard work. After a year of these activities, the health condition of the aged people was better while several health problems decreased such as the rate of sickness, risk group of chronic diseases, join and muscular pain. Besides, diabetes and blood pressure were at the same level. The patients with diabetes and blood pressure were able to better control glucose level and blood pressure at the safe rate without any complications. The whole quality of life of the elderly on physical and mental health, daily routine, society and finance were also increased by 63.15%. Furthermore, sex and age were significantly related to the health promotion for the elderly with p<0.0001 and p<0.012, respectively. However, religion, education and occupation were not significantly related to the health promotion. Conclusion/Recommendations: The aged persons should pay attention to their health first to learn appropriate treatment. Government organizations should take care of the budget continually to general people as well as the elderly to complete the target of the health promotion in contexts of community, tradition, beliefs, rituals and culture. These factors could help the aged persons live in the society and the environment properly to have strong physical and mental health with their warm families.