Potential development model of the elderly’s healthcare by the elderly club in Wan Kham Sub-district,asi Salai District, Sisaket Province.

Abstract

This study was conducted as action research with the objectives to assess the operational standards and current situation of the elderly club, to develop and implement a health care system model for older adults operated by the elderly club, and to evaluate satisfaction with the developed elderly health care system of the Elderly Club in Huai Kham Subdistrict, Rasi Salai District, Sisaket Province. The participants consisted of three groups: (1) 108 members of the elderly club executive committee, (2) 286 older adults residing in Huai Kham Subdistrict, and (3) 25 experts involved in drafting the model. The research was conducted through four steps—planning, action, observation, and reflection—across three cycles in 2025. The research instruments included evaluation forms, questionnaires, interview guides, observation records, and activity performance records. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations, as well as summative content analysis.

              The results revealed that, in Phase 1, the overall operational standards of the Huai Kham Elderly Club were at a good level (𝑥̄ = 27.33), while the health care capacity of elderly club members was at a moderate level (𝑥̄ = 2.90). In Phase 2, the developed elderly health care system model comprised six components: (1) model principles, (2) model objectives, (3) system and mechanisms, (4) implementation procedures, (5) evaluation guidelines, and (6) conditions of the model. The model development was conducted over three cycles. In the first cycle, the focus was on strengthening the committee through committee meetings, member surveys, recruitment, and drafting and approving club regulations. The second cycle emphasized the development of the elderly health care system, including capacity building of family caregivers, community caregivers, village health volunteers, and elderly club members; enhancement of health screening activities; development of individual health care plans; assessment of activities of daily living; and planning of physical and mental health promotion activities. The third cycle focused on developing continuous and comprehensive elderly health care activities, strengthening the health care system and processes covering social, economic, environmental, and health dimensions, and preparing comprehensive health care plans for all older adults. In Phase 3, the evaluation of satisfaction with the elderly health care model implemented by the Huai Kham Elderly Club showed that the overall level of satisfaction was at a moderate level (𝑥̄ = 2.97)