THE NEEDS FOR HEALTH CARE AMONG THE ELDERLY IN THE TRANG MUNICIPALITY AREA OF TRANG PROVINCE

Abstract

Thailand has higher numbers of aging population, the elderly people tend to change their physical conditions, consequently affecting their general health. This change requires them additional needs in terms of health welfare. The government can play an active role in response to these needs by promoting and providing complete and quality health care for the elderly. The aim of this study is to study the needs for health care among the elderly. This study is structured as a qualitative research by interviewing 20 elderly people aged over 60 years living in Trang municipality, Trang province, selecting purposively. This study deploys content analysis in fulfilling the research objectives. This study has revealed that the elderly people require the following five needs in the health care. The needs are inclusive of: 1) financial support in a medical care, in which a medical healthcare service is free of charge, 2) accessible medical and healthcare service, where a public health center is easily accessible, 3) physical and mental consultation, in which both the public and private healthcare providers offer additional consultation service when it is needed, 4) sufficient and available physicians, where more medical personnel are deployed whenever their help is needed, and 5) healthcare information awareness, in which appropriate medical and healthcare guidelines are given to all the elderly people. This study further suggests that the government should subsidize in medical expenses, develop medical equipment and tools, as well as increase a number of medical personnel, in order to respond to the needs of the elderly people in terms of health care.