Driving the Public Policy for the Elderly to Implementation of the Elderly Club in Bangkok

Abstract

This research work aims to study the administration of the elderly club, roles of the elderly club in implementing the public policy for the elderly leading to treatment and obstacles from the implementation of the public policy for the elderly leading to treatment for the elderly in Bangkok area. The study was conducted on 6 strong elderly clubs with the mixed method between the qualitative method used in analyzing the content and describing the actual data and the quantitative method including statistics: percentage and standard deviation. The findings revealed that in terms of administration of the elderly club, the club was established in 2 ways: by the gathering of the elderly and by the support from the public health organization. The administration was in accordance with the standard criteria for the elderly club under Thai Association of the Elderly Council and held activities related to health, career promotion, community services, traditions and religions, life-long learning and participation in Thai Association of the Elderly Council and Bangkok Elderly Federation. In terms of implementation of public policy for the elderly, it was found that mobilization and performance were in low levels, while continuation was found to be in a high level. In terms of implementation of the quality of life development plan for the elderly in Bangkok - Phase 1 (2014 - 2017) for the treatment for the elderly, it was found that the 3rd strategy concerning readiness preparation for Bangkok citizens at all ages for quality aging had the performance in a high level, while the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th strategies were found to have the performance in a low level. In terms of problems and obstacles in implementing the public policy, it was found that the elderly club had trouble acknowledging the Bangkok public policy for the elderly. Lack of support from the elderly organization was due to lack of participation in the public policy process.