Guidelines for Developing the Quality of Life of Baby Boomers Generation in Bangkok

Abstract

          The purpose of this research was to study the development level of the quality of the baby boomers’ life in Bangkok. The samples were the baby boomers who were born between 1946 - 1964, by focusing on the 400 respondents who live in 5 districts, including Wattana District, Phaya Thai District, Huai Khwang District, Chatuchak District and Rat Burana District, Bangkok.  The sampling was based on the Non-Probability Sampling Technique by using the Quota Sampling Technique. The data were collected from the questionnaires and were analyzed by using statistics, average, and standard deviation. The hypothesis testing of analysis of variance was done by t-test and One-Way ANOVA and LSD or Fisher’s Least Significant Difference. The results of the research showed that the development of the quality of life of the baby boomers in Bangkok was at a high level with an average of 3.67. When considering each aspect, it was found that all aspectswas at a high level which the social environment had an average of 3.97, the readiness in the resource was at 3.54, and the cooperation and support from the relevant agencies had an average of 3.51, respectively. The quality of life of the baby boomers in Bangkok in overall was relatively at low level with an average of 3.38. When considering in each aspect, it was found that the level was relatively low in all aspects, by sorting average values from high to relatively low as follows; the management of the quality of life development system aspect had an average of 3.53, the health and sanitation aspect had an average of 3.45, the occupation promotion or income of the elderly had an average of 3.28, the cohabitation and strengthening of organizations in terms of the elderly had an average of 3.24. In addition, the results of the hypothesis testing showed that baby boomers had the level of opinion on developing the quality of life in terms of resources, social environment, cooperation and support from the related agencies. When classified by gender, age, education level, and monthly income, there were differences in all aspects at the statistical significance level of 0.05. The guidelines for developing the quality of life in each aspect can be described as follows: 1) In terms of the social environment, the community should be the intermediary in promoting and support the development of the quality of life of the elderly in flexibly way, as well as motivate for development. They should also plan for the annual budget for the cost of developing the quality of life of the elderly. 2) In terms of the readiness in the resources, the president of the community should provide adequate materials, equipment, tools and appliances to develop the quality of life of the elderly, such as primary medical equipment to promote the health of the elderly, such as emergency ambulances, blood pressure monitor, blood pressure medicine, and so on. 3) In terms of the cooperation and support from the related agencies, there should be the forum of the elderly to provide the opportunities to participate in setting the plans or projects for developing the quality of life of the elderly that will be in line with the needs of the elderly.