THE EXPERIENCE OF ELDERLY CAREGIVER LEADERS AFTER TRAINING FOR CAREGIVER PROGRAM IN A LOW-INCOME URBAN AREA

Boonsri  Kittichottipanich; Udomporn  Yingpaiboonsuk; Wipakon  Sonsanam; Oranuch  Chaopreecha; Sudpranorm  Smuntavekin; Kanjana  Siricharoenwong; Saree  Dangthongdee

Boonsri Kittichottipanich Instructor of Nursing and Health College, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Udomporn Yingpaiboonsuk Instructor of Nursing and Health College, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Wipakon Sonsanam Instructor of Nursing and Health College, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Oranuch Chaopreecha Instructor of Nursing and Health College, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Sudpranorm Smuntavekin Instructor of Nursing and Health College, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Kanjana Siricharoenwong Instructor of Nursing and Health College, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Saree Dangthongdee * Instructor of Nursing and Health College, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand

Keywords: caregivers, elderly health care, experience of caregivers, community elderlyhealth care

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative research was to study the experience of caregiverleaders after training of the caregiver program. Data were obtained from 8 key informants, byin-depth interview during April, 2019-June, 2019. Triangulation was used to facilitate thevalidation of the data. Content analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data. Theparticipants have passed the training from the course on 100 hours integrating nursingknowledge for the elderly caregiver. This course objective was to produced leaders for theelderly caregivers, in order to be volunteers for health promotion in low-income communityor as an extra income for elderly caregiver and used as a way to help society by having ahealth teaching.The finding showed that 8 participants were female, aged between 23-45 years, wereemployed as daily employees in public health centers, daily income was 300 baht, averageannual income was between 50,000 - 70,000 Baht/year. They want to develop more asprofessionals, create an additional income. The experience after the training found that thetrainers gained of knowledge and ability in basic elderly health care with common problems,techniques of communication for health care, nutrition for the elderly, health care inaccordance with Thai traditional medicine and alternative medicine, ethics for the elderlycaregivers and related laws. All participants increased in careers for the elderly caregivers onholidays, healthy promotion activity such as nutrition for the elderly, fall prevention, healthyfood cooking for selling, massage and created exercise health promotion activities for theelderly in the community. At the same time that some of the activities can be used to gain agood extra income, it also provides knowledge on health care for the elderly in thecommunity as well.The transferring of knowledge about health care for the elderly in urban poorcommunities was necessary, it is the way to strengthen the community in elderly healthcare.This is an important public health responsibility. This study created a model to transfer thehealth care of the elderly to the community. At the same time, they can become professionals.This will help the elderly to have a good quality of life and live in Thai society with valueand dignity.