Abstract:
The research aimed to study the performance of Phra Lao municipality in Phana district in caring for the dependent elderly and to propose the guidelines to improve a caring system for the dependent elderly under study. Data were gathered from 80 individuals. The research instrument was a questionnaire. Statistics used were percentage, mean,standard deviation, content analysis and descriptive analysis.
The research findings were as follows.
1. The performance to care for the dependent elderly in Phana district was undertaken at a high level. The maximum levels were concerned with the care evaluation and individual caring plan, pre-service work, a long-term caring plan, a longterm service, health care by the public health staff/ family doctors, the role in taking care of the elderly, the home care service, and advice to the care givers and other networks. The least undertaken aspect was securing the medical equipment.
2. The aspects most undertaken to care for the elderly in the study were the pre-service action, a long-term care plan, a care assessment, a plan adaptation in individual cases, home cares, a community care, advice to relatives and care providers or other networks, a long term service, a health care by the public health officials/ doctors, and roles in caring for the dependent elderly in Phra Lao municipality. The securement of medical equipment was least undertaken.
3. Considering the satisfaction of the dependent elderly in the municipality in the study, it was found that their satisfaction was found to be at a high level. The highest level was found in mental dimension, spirit and intellectual aspect, the role in taking care of the elderly, and the care providers respectively. The satisfaction found least in social dimensions and the service system.
The guidelines to care for the dependent elderly could be summarized as follows. 1) An caring plan should be integrated with the multidisciplinary team/ family doctors in a progressive and consistent manner. More work was needed to survey, monitor and assess the performance to adapt the plan for individuals more appropriately. 2) Care givers and others who did the caring work should be trained. 3) More medical equipment should be secured and made available when it was needed. 4) Adequate budget and personnel or staff should be sufficient for the caring work.