THE APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF ELDERLY WELFARE: A CASE STUDY OF TAMBON SUTHEP, AMPHUR MUANG CHIANG MAI, CHIANG MAI PROVINCE

Abstract

The purpose of this study is, 1) to study the form and management of social welfare for elderly people in Suthep Sub-district municipality 2) to study and know the opinion of older people for social welfare management they received 3) to provide guidelines for an appropriated social welfare management for older people and brings happy benefits

The research tools being used in this study are both qualitative and quantitative consisting of in-depth interviewing, questionnaires and SWOT analysis with the 117 samples including executives, local officials, committees of senior club, and older people in Suthep sub-district, Muang district, Chiang Mai province.

            The study found that there were 4 forms of social welfare for older people:- (1) Social Security, (2) Public Assistance, (3) Social Service and (4) The Assistance of People Sector.  The research also found that there were various problems and obstacles in management of the project like   insufficient allowance, lack of fund to help the poor older or handicapped people, community fund, the project to helping older people who experienced the social problems,   to found the training center or school for older people in the community,  jobs and income, recreation activities, strengthening of elderly people club, elderly people meeting, participation of older people, exploring biographies of older people, first aid training, care for elderly people who can’t care for themselves,   volunteers for social welfare in community.  These problems and obstacles arose from 1) lack of integration and stability in the process of social welfare for elderly people, separately performance in the health care and social welfare, as well as the centralization of the helping.  It should be more decentralized for local organizations to participate in decision-making. 2) Lack of bringing policy to be really materialized 4) inadequate budgets and well educated personnel in social welfare for elderly people and 4) insufficient allowance given by the government which does not meet their needs and not cover to all elderly people.

The results of this research showed that 1) in terms of Social Security, subsistence allowance should be increased in order to meet the present expenditures. The funds for elderly people also should be raised.   (2) As for Public Assistance we found that exploring biographies of older people and volunteers in a community should be established.  (3) Moreover Social Service, consistency and continuity for health checking should be done. Health training for elderly people and cultural recreation activities also should be established. (4) Finally The Assistance of People Sector, we found that the government should support the older people to take part in any group activities continually and strengthen elderly people club. This can be possible by integration from various factions both government and private sectors in order to   prepare for surging numbers of aging people in the future to come. This will enhance the quality of life of older people who are valuable and desirable for society as well as the nation.