DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMPOWERMENT MODEL FOR HOME-BOUND AND BED-BOUND ELDERLY CAREGIVER IN NON SOMBUN SUBDISTRICT, NA CHALUAI DISTRICT, UBON RATCHATHANI PROVINCE

Abstract

     This research is action research (AR) with the objective of developing a model for the empowerment of caregivers for 18 bedridden elderly caregivers in a select district (Non Somboon, Nachaluai District, Ubon Ratchathani Province). There is one long-term public health system manager (or “care manager”) and nine members of a long-term care service support sub-committee for dependent elderly in Tambon Nonsomboon, one Head of the District Health Promotion Group, the Nachaluai District Public Health Office, one Public Health Officer, the Khok Thiam Subdistrict Health-Promoting Hospital, and 10 community leaders from 10 villages, participated in the development process. Data were collected using questionnaires, observations, group interviews, and in-depth interviews, a statistical analysis of frequency, percentages, a paired samples test, and qualitative data analysis (content analysis).

     The study found that the process of developing a model for caregiver empowerment for bedridden elderly caregivers (“caregivers”) was a model developed as a result of the involvement of the Sub-Committee for Service Management Support Long-Term Care for Dependent Elderly, Tambon Nonsomboon, Non Somboon Sub-district, which was involved at all stages of development as defined and consists of four steps: 1) Surveying the general condition of the community, 2) Designing a system to strengthen the empowerment of caregivers for bedridden elderly caregivers at the village level, Tambon, including the formation of incentives, promotion, and development of cooperation, creating a work atmosphere, and building leadership, 3) Implementing the plan, and 4) Evaluating performance. Based on the results of the quantitative study, it was found that the level of empowerment of bedridden elderly caregivers after operating for 6 months was significantly higher than before the operation (P-value < 0.01).