ความต้องการของญาติต่อบริการการจัดส่งผู้ดูแลผู้สูงอายุของศูนย์เอกชนในเขตภาคกลาง ประเทศไทย

Thanupong  Supaledworawich; ์Nittaya Pensirinapa

Authors

Thanupong Supaledworawich School of Health Science, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University
Associated Professor Dr. Nittaya Pensirinapa School of Health Science, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

Keywords:

Demand; , Relatives of the elderly; , Caregivers delivery services; , Private centers

Abstract

Introduction: Thailand is rapidly entering an aging society, leading to an increasing demand for elderly care services, particularly private caregiver dispatch services that support long-term care within households. Decisions regarding the use of such services are primarily made by family members of older adults, who play a crucial role in selecting appropriate care services.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the needs of family members for private caregiver dispatch services in the central region of Thailand and to compare the level of service needs according to personal factors of family members and characteristics of older adults.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative research design. The sample consisted of 172 family members of older adults who utilized caregiver dispatch services. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with established content validity (Index of Item-Objective Congruence: IOC = 0.67–1.00) and high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.95). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance.

Results: The findings revealed that family members reported a high level of demand for caregiver dispatch services. Among the dimensions, caregiver-related factors were rated the highest, followed by quality of elderly care, service management, and cost, respectively. In addition, occupation and income of family members, as well as the presence of chronic diseases and the level of activities of daily living (ADL) of older adults, were found to significantly influence the level of service demand (p < .05).

Conclusion and Discussion: The results highlight the importance of developing caregiver competency standards and improving the quality of private caregiver dispatch services to better respond to family needs. Strengthening service management and aligning care provision with the long-term care system are essential to support sustainable and high-quality elderly care in an aging society.

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