A Study on the Social Welfare Received and the Self-care of the Elderly in Poochaosamingprai Municipality Area, Phrapradaeng District, Samutprakarn Province

Abstract

“A Study on the Social Welfare Received and the Self-care of the Elderly in Poochaosamingprai Municipality Area, Phrapradaeng District, Samutprakarn Province” aims to study the welfare received, self-care, and additional social welfare needs of the elderly, which is quantitative research. The sample consisted of 389 elderly using questionnaires as a research tool. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze data.
The research results showed the profiles of the sample as follow: 58.9 % female, 41.1 % male, 32.9% 70-75 years, 28.0% 66-69 years, 52.7% completed primary school, 100% Buddhist, 54.0% married, 50.9% had a congenital disease, 45.5% had 1-3 member in the family, 71.1% had to take care of the elderly, 32.6% had average family income lower than 5,000 Baht per month.
Overall, these elderly received social welfare at a moderate level (mean 2.73), received social welfare respectively as follow: 1) Health (mean 3.58), 2) Social security (mean 3.57) in high levels, 3) Educational (mean 3.14), 4) Housing (mean 2.78), 5) Recreation (mean 2.75), 6) Social services (mean 2.66 ), and 7) Income and employment (mean 2.59), at low levels. An overall self-care, they were at a moderate level (mean 2.16). When considering each aspect, they received social welfare at moderate level as follows: 1) physical aspect at a high level, 2) economic, 3) psychological aspect, and 4) social aspect. In terms of the welfare needs, the overall level was moderate (mean 2.82).
The results of hypothesis testing revealed that 1) different gender, ages, educational levels received different social welfare significantly. 2) different median family incomes and periods of care resulted received different human benefits, 3) different gender, ages, the educational level had an impact on physical, mental, and economic self-care, 4) different median family incomes and periods of care make self-care differentiate between the physical, mental and economic self-care of the elderly.