Developing potential of local communities for the dependent elderly care in the northeast of Thailand

Abstract

This is qualitative research adopting the participatory action approach. The study results were seen as the followings: Firstly, the participatory process of the dependent elderly care in the communities classified into three forms, i.e. (1) natural form which is contributed by members in the same family, (2) formal form which focuses on the relevant government authorities; and (3) mixed natural-formal form which involves with volunteers. Secondly, in terms of running developmental activities to enhance potential of networks and mechanisms for support and promoting the dependent elderly care in the communities, the study shows that community context, procedure, and developmental activity results the significant and different outcome. In developing potential of network in the natural group, it involves the developmental activity suitable with the context of rural community. In order to develop the network mechanism of mixed natural-formal form, it is necessary to form the activity suitable to the context of rural-urban circumstance. Employing the activities relying on social capital of community with a strong norm of collective practices on economy, society, mentality, emotion, health, culture and tradition, physical existence. Thirdly, in relation to the activities to develop the potential of dependent elderly care relying on local community, the result informs that the activities collaboratively conducted among the community members and authorities through integrated participation would mostly contribute to success of participation in the dependent elderly care. Various directions of developmental activities can be adopted concerning economic potential, society, mind/emotion, health, and culture.