Abstract:
The objectives of this study were: 1) to study the process of the elderly schools in Central Thailand, 2) to develop the system of the elderly health and welfare management of the elderly schools in Central Thailand, and 3) to strengthen the cooperation in the elderly health and welfare management of the elderly schools in Central Thailand. This research applied Mixed Methods Research consisting of the qualitative research by the questionnaires and the quantitative research by the in- Depth Interview from the key informants the focus group. The data was presented by
the description and synthesized systematically.
The finding of the study were as follows;
1. The operation of the elderly schools in Central Thailand to promote the elderly health and welfare had the objectives: to develop the health of the elders in 4 dimensions: body, mind, wisdom and society, to promote the self-development and lifelong learning for the community and the society realizing the value and accepting the knowledge of the elders, to strengthen the good relationship between the people in 3 ages for the generosity and living together happily, to strengthen being the volunteer of the people in 3 ages for the community service, to promote the local wisdom and culture, and to promote the elders making benefit to the community and society through the lifestyle behaviors and the teaching and learning activities in the schools covering the 4 dimensions: body, mind, wisdom and society. The activities that promoted the elderly health and welfare in Central Thailand had the relationship and cooperated on the staff, the volunteers, the communities and the organizations in the area.
2. The system of the elderly health and welfare management of the elderly schools in Central Thailand was 1) the physical health and welfare
management did through the activities promoting the physical health such as food and nutrition, and exercises, developed the emotion in the elders such as praying, meditation and Dharma therapy, had the annual medical examination, visited the elders at their homes, provided the cost of living thoroughly and developed the parks for the elders in the exercises. 2) The social health and welfare management focused
on the activities in talking, exchanging and learning between the elders in the schools, developed the talking skill and listening skill, and provided the activities in the hotline for the elders and the activities in the volunteers for looking after the elders at home. 3) The mental health and welfare management did through the process of the activities in psychology, positive thinking, singing, recreation, religion, and Dharma therapy and made the project for the health center to the elders in talking and exchanging their opinions. 4) The intellectual health and welfare management did through the academic activities, the local culture and wisdom, focused on the application of the Dhamma principles in their lives, promoted the wisdom, the handicrafts, and the artifacts to promote the elders in the production and searched the market in selling the products.
3. Strengthening the cooperation in the elderly health and welfare management of the elderly schools in Central Thailand was strengthening the
cooperation between the public sector, the local administrative organizations, the private sector and the people in the area, made a deal with academic cooperation between the elderly schools for the academic development together, provided the activities together for the cooperation such as sports, recreation, and practicing the dharma, and had the study trip for learning and exchanging to make the close relationship.