Prototype Application for Tracking and Helping the Elderly in Flood Situations

Abstract

This research aimed to develop a prototype application for tracking and helping the elderly in flood situations and to study the efficiency of using the application. The study sites consisted of three villages which are no. 2 Ban Khlongthong, village no. 4 Ban Plak De, and village no. 8 Ban Khlong Pratoo in Patong Sub-district, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. The participatory action research method was used in this research. The main target groups included village headman, village health volunteers, staff at Health Center, Patong Sub-district Administrative Organization, older adults in the areas, and elderly caregivers. Inductive data analysis and content analysis were conducted by dividing the research into 5 stages. The study found that the prototype application was divided into 2 main parts: part 1: knowledge about flooding and disaster management and part 2: local flood management. The prototype application was called Flood Care. Assessment of user satisfaction in terms of general quality and usability was conducted. There was a high level of satisfaction in every aspect because it was found easy to use, easy to understand its language format, convenient to access, accurate and complete information, and able to provide necessary information to assist the elderly. Therefore, Flood Care application can be propagated to other areas to build up and help the elderly in the flood situation.