Environmental Management for Elderly by Sub - district Local Administration Organization

Abstract

Thailand has been entering an aging society and sub district administrative organizations (SAOs) share a responsibility to promote and provide social benefits and services for the elderly. This research aimed to study environmental management for the elderly by SAOs and to assess the effectiveness of such environmental management. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 100 SAOs and interviews of responsible personnel from eight SAOs. Descriptive statistics, e.g., frequency and percentage, was used to analyze data.

            The results showed that SAOs have provided enough resources and budget for environmental management for the elderly. Factors affecting the elderly’s quality of life are, for example, health insurance funds, elderly clubs, mobile health service centers. SAOs offer a number of activities related to environmental management and quality of life in their communities, e.g. waste bank projects and community-based waste management. The performances of SAOs regarding environmental management for the elderly mentioned above are at a high level. From this study, it was found that disasters, e.g., flood, drought, soil subsidence, and landslide are the main concerned environmental issues for the elderly. With regard to facility providing, the SAOs offer a moderate level of services, e.g., priority seating, inclusive building design, and green space for leisure activities. For law enforcement and regulation, the SOAs offer projects and activities for the elderly at a medium level, e.g., waste bank, community-based waste management, and reforestation.