THE CONCEPT OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN: COMMUNITY PARTICIPATORY POLICIES AND GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE ELDERLY: A CASE STUDY OF THE ARANYIK TOWN MUNICIPALITY, PHITSANULOK PROVINCE

Abstract

This study's goal is to examine the topic of community-participatory policies and guidelines for raising the standard of living for the elderly in a case study region of the Aranyik Town Municipality, Phitsanulok Province, using the universal design principle. The researcher used qualitative research techniques to present the study's findings.  A questionnaire was the tool. There was also a synthesis of the data obtained from literature reviews and associated studies. In order to categorize and select the data that perfectly suited the study objectives, the researcher conducted content data analysis on the basis of data analysis. In Aranyik Municipality, Phitsanulok Province, the researcher was divided into three groups, each of which employed a particular approach to select community members, namely: 1) government officials, 2) civil society groups, and 3) the elderly.

These research's study findings are divided into the following three categories: 1) The implementation of the Aranyik Municipality, Phitsanulok Province has established legal and policy measures aiming to promote families to be caregivers for the elderly in the community, with the idea that caring for the elderly requires understanding and cooperation from members of the community's family. Collaboration between governmental agencies, local governments, and families is essential to providing successful elder care, 2) For an elderly society, the Aranyik Municipality in Phitsanulok Province has emphasized the idea of civilization. However, it is inherent to the nature of the area's policy formation and policy implementation to integrate pertinent entities such province departments, local government organizations, public health organizations, communities, and the people sector, etc. This is because of how important safety, sufficiency, and health are. But in order to serve the aging society in the future, Aranyik Municipality, Phitsanulok Province, has to establish policies and workforce, in accordance with the concept of civil architecture, and 3) By attending monthly meetings and discussing environmental and housing issues that are relevant to the life of the elderly, the community in the Aranyik Municipality, Phitsanulok Province, has a solid working relationship with the municipality.

Among the research recommendations are: 1. The idea of civilized architecture development should be applied by relevant organizations and communities to community development in order to support the aging society.  2. The second study idea is that studies of civilization should be done for other groups, such as the disabled or other disadvantaged populations.