The Development of Quality of Life of Elderly Through Active Ageing in Bang Rin Subdistrict Mueang Ranong District Ranong Province

Abstract

This research have a purposes 1) to study the quality of life of the elderly, and 2) to find the ways to develop the quality of life of the elderly through active ageing in Bang Rin Subdistrict, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province. This study is a qualitative research. Data were collected from books, journals, documents, theses, researches and related publications. Qualitative data were collected from in-depth interview with 17 key informants by using purposive random sampling, and data were analyzed by content analysis. The results of the research were presented by descriptive analysis. The results of the research were found that The quality of life of the elderly in Bang Rin Subdistrict, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong Province was as follows: In terms of health, there were related agencies taking care of health of the elderly. There were some activities which the elderly can participate, for examples, continuous exercise, which encourages the elderly to have various behavior according to their good routine, and make them have strong mind, happy mind and good health. In terms of participation, the elderly always had a participation in group activities of the elderly camp, which encourage the elderly to take care of each other. As a result, the elderly had a good reaction in living together and they did not feel abandoned. In terms of stability, the elderly had an income from the public agencies; some had an income from trading. There were some professional groups training professions for the elderly. There were public health volunteers in the village taking care of the health of the elderly. As a result, the elderly had stability and security in life and property. In terms of conditions supporting active ageing, the elderly can easily adjust themselves to the current environments. They can apply technological devices for communication and living their life. As a result, the elderly did not feel lonely and did not get depression. The ways to develop the quality of life of the elderly were as follows: In terms of health, there should be appropriate and safe places for exercise in order for the elderly to increase their health skill. In terms of participation, there should be activities for the elderly to express their ideas in developing Ranong district to be a city for health tourism.  In terms of stability, there should be an encouragement of the profession of the elderly in terms of productions of product and welcoming skill to tourists. In terms of conditions supporting active ageing, there should be an encouragement of the elderly to receive convenience in access to data in social media and building several environments that are beneficial to the elderly by prioritizing on the elderly mind. Recommendations: There should be policy, active plan, and strategic plan that support the elder to participate in various activities by prioritizing on the elderly health care, exercise, learning and self-dependence, practice of professional skill, providing market place for trading, and encouraging the elderly to have good mental health, happy, cheerful and joyful mind. There should be a study on the effectiveness and efficiency of management for development of the quality of life of the elderly. There should be a study on the ways of participation of the community in development of the quality of life of the elderly, including a study on strategy and technique in management of the quality of life of the elderly.