The Management of the elderly recreation for health promotion in Tha Ma Kham, Mueang Kanchanaburi district, Kanchanaburi province

Abstract

The purpose of this Participatory Action Research (PAR) was to study the guidelines for creating recreational activities to promote health for the elderly and to create a practical guide for organization of recreational activities for senior citizens in Thamakham Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang Kanchanaburi, Kanchanaburi. This research project had a sample group of 40 volunteer participants who were aged 60 or over, were able to take care of themselves, and were inhabitants of Moo 1, Moo 2, and Moo 5 in Thamakham Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang Kanchanaburi, Kanchanaburi. The data-collecting instruments for this research were 12 recreational activity programs for promoting health for the elderly, and structured interviews of the participants. Data analysis was performed by calculating percentages, means and standard deviations. The results of the research project: 1. Most of the seniors were female, married, have no career, have one to three family members, and have medical problems. Most of them participated in community activities. 2. Most of the seniors have a medium level of basic knowledge in promoting health for the elderly people. 3. The level of point of view of the seniors about the purpose of creating recreational activities to promote health for the elderly was much more than average. 4. The level of satisfaction of the seniors about managing recreational activities to promote health for the elderly was much more than average. 5. The level of overall satisfaction of the seniors about recreational activities to promote health for the elderly was much more than average. 6. Suggestions were received from the senior citizens that the schedule for the activities should be Monday to Friday between 8.00 A.M. to 12.00 A.M., and that the venues for the activities should be dependent on the organizers, and that there should be field trips. 7. Creation of a practical guide, containing 12 activities, to organize recreational activities for seniors in Thamakham Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang Kanchanaburi, Kanchanaburi.