Quality of Life of the Aged : A Comparison between Urban and Rural

Abstract

The research aimed to study factors affecting the quality of life of the aged.  Nine hundred and Ninety-one people (991 participants) who lived in 15 provinces namely Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi, Chonburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Chaing Mai, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Satun were selected as a sample group by multistage cluster sampling method. A questionnaire was used to gather data. Mean, standard deviation, t-test and F-test were employed to analyze the data at the statistical significance  level of 0.05. The results indicated that factors such as household status, saving, environmental satisfaction, working life satisfaction,  health satisfaction, and family life satisfaction significantly affected the aged people’s quality of life in the urban areas. Whereas, the factors of occupation, marital status , household status, environmental satisfaction, working life satisfaction, health satisfaction, and family life satisfaction,  significantly affected the aged people’s quality of life in the rural areas. Thus, public sectors such as 1) Social Warning Center, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security should establish surveillance networks for people in community to take care their elderly people, 2) Department of Health should enhance knowledge and awareness about health care of the aged group and 3) Social Security Office should enhance the employees  to reach  the  social security fund , especially in the case old-age benefits.