Scenarios for Enhancing the Quality of Life in the Next Decade: The Elderly

Abstract

       The purposes of this research were to study the enhancement of the quality of life of the elderly in the next decade of 2018-2027 in Nakhonphanom Province and to present the scenario in enhancing the quality of life of the elderly in the next decade of 2018-2027. The mixed methodology was applied with 3 phases. Phase 1 was the development of conceptual framework of the scenario in enhancing the quality of life of the elderly in the next decade of 2018-2027 that studied concepts, theories and the involved research studies and the experts were employed by using in-depth interviews. Phase 2 was the study of the scenario in enhancing the quality of life of the elderly in the next decade of 2018-2027 that consisted of the interviews of the 18 experts by applying the EDFR (Ethnographic Delphi Futures Research).And, phase 3 was the presentation the scenario in enhancing the quality of life of the elderly in the next decade of 2018-2027 from the group of 42 experts. The research tools for data collection were semi-structured interview schedules, semi-structured interview schedules, and rating scale questionnaires. The statistics used were percentage, mean and standard deviation. Descriptive analysis was applied for qualitative data.
     Finding of the study were as follow. 1) The scenario of quality of life of the elderly in the next decade of 2018-2027 in Nakhonphanom Province on each aspect was at the possible level for enhancing the real quality of life and it was good scenario that tended to be possible at the most level on every aspect. They were good tempered condition, interpersonal relationship, good living condition, self-development, good physical condition, self-decision, social organization, and citizenship rights aspects. The concepts of the Sufficiency Economy took the key roles for determining the directions for enhancing the quality of life of the elderly in the next decade. 2) The presentation of the scenario in enhancing the quality of life of the elderly in the next decade of 2018-2027 was measured by the experts on the appropriate and possible opportunity aspects of the scenario in enhancing the quality of life of the elderly in the next decade of 2018-2027. It was possible at most level on every aspect.