A Survey of Epidemiology of Health and Needs Assessment among Aging People Living in Town Municipality, Pathumthani Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to assess the epidemiology of elderly health problems and the needs for the elderly in urban areas of Thailand. It was conducted as a cross-sectional study covering 2,027 elderly people in two town municipalities in Pathumthani province. Data were collected by using questionnaires to collect personal data, epidemiological data including health problems and the needs associated with physical, mental health, social and environment; and were analyzed by descriptive statistics. It was found that the majority of the elderly in the study areas were female (62.8%), and 54.7% of them were categorized as early elderly group, 31.6% were senior elderly, and 3.7% were late elderly. Among them 57.4% were married. The most common source of income was from government support (85.3%). Around 74.6% of the elderly had chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bone and joints syndrome, cardiovascular disease, allergy or asthma, and paralysis. The essential needs of the elderly on physical and mental health services were health check-up and community-based care by physicians, nurses, or public health officials. For the social environment services, the elderly people need good waste management in the community. Thus, the local governments should be responsible for providing comprehensive healthcare to the elderly, including the provision of suitable employment as well as safe and healthy living environment for the elderly.