Outcomes and sustainability of community participation in elderly health promotion

Abstract

With the increase in the elderly population comes and increase in the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases and conditions. Healthcare services for elderly in the community are shifting from reactive to proactive care, focusing on prevention, health promotion, and community involvement. Thus, it brings sustainable health care and strengthens community capacity. This qualitative research aimed to study outcomes and sustainability of community participation in elderly health promotion project. The
research setting was community in Phetchaburi province. Key informants were elderly, community leaders, health volunteers, healthcare staffs, nursing instructors and students of Prachomklao college of nursing, Phetchaburi. Data were collected using focus group interviews. Content analysis was employed to analyze the data. The results of this study are:

1. The outcomes of the community participation in the elderly health promotion projects were health outcomes such as exercise, food, drugs and stress management. And other outcomes are friendships, pleasure, self-esteem, and good relationship.

2. The guideline for sustainable development of the community involvement in the care of elderly required individual health awareness, strong sense of voluntarism of health volunteers, great collaboration among related organizations to initiate and provide healthcare to the elderly in the community including dependent and disable elders.