DEVELOPING AN ELDERLY CARE SYSTEM FOR AN AGING SOCIETY

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to examine an appropriate elderly care system for Thailand’s aging society by drawing lessons from elderly care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-one key informants were purposively selected, comprising older adults, caregivers, representatives of local government agencies or community health volunteers, and experts in aging. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using content analysis and inductive analysis. Data trustworthiness was ensured through triangulation. The findings revealed that an appropriate elderly care system should be tailored to older adults’ care needs according to their level of dependency. The proposed care system can be classified into three groups: (1) independent older adults, who experienced challenges related to income, physical activity, and mental well-being, requiring support for employment, physical activity, and disease prevention; (2) partially dependent older adults, who encountered difficulties in accessing healthcare services, experienced social isolation, and required chronic disease management, indicating the need for proactive and telehealth services, psychosocial support, and appropriate nutritional care; and (3) fully dependent older adults, who were at high risk and relied primarily on caregivers, highlighting the importance of caregiver management, environmental modification and hygiene, as well as integrated support from communities, village health volunteers, and local administrative organizations. Such an integrated care system would ensure continuous and comprehensive care while strengthening Thailand’s preparedness for an aging society and future public health emergencies.