Development of Elderly Dependency Care Pattern in Suad Sub-DistrictHealth Promoting Hospital, Banluang District, Nan Province

Abstract

The purposes of this action research were to develop elderly dependency care pattern in Suad sub-district health promoting hospital, Banluang district, Nan Province and to assess the satisfaction in providing dependable elderly care services. It was conducted during May 2016 to May 2018. The research samples were 9 dependent older persons and their relatives, 20 caregivers, 8 representatives of village health volunteers, 8 community leaders, 8 members of the Suad subdistrict administrative organization (SAO) from 8 Villages, the chief executive of the SAO, the chief administrator of the SAO, the community development specialist, the general administration officer and 2 public health officers of Suad Sub-District Health Promoting Hospital, selected by purposive sampling. The research instrument was a set of questionnaires. The data were analyzed by descriptive and paired sample t-test statistics. The research findings showed that the development of elderly dependency care pattern in Suad sub-district health promoting hospital, Banluang district, Nan province consisted of four phases including (1) Plan, (2) Do, (3) Check and (4) Act. The results revealed that knowledge of the elderly care givers after training was significantly higher than before the training (p<0.01). The Barthel ADL index of older persons was higher (p<0.05). In addition, the elderly caregivers had also high levels of health care behaviors. The results of this study could be used to promote the elderly dependency care pattern and should be incorporated into the action plan of sub-district health promoting hospitals.