Effectiveness of the elderly self-care model for enhancing quality of life by community participation in Yasothon Province, Thailand

The quality of life (QoL) of elderly individuals is an important public health issue in Thailand. This study aimed to assess the factors affecting QoL in elderly individuals. Additionally, action research was used to develop and evaluate the self-care model. Mixed methods research was conducted on 369 elderly individuals in Yasothon Province, Thailand, from June 2020 to May 2022. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, and then were analyzed via SPSS 25.0. The stepwise multiple linear regression analyses and an independent sample t-test were used for the data analyses. The majority of the participants were female (72.63 percent), and the average age was 68.8 years. Most participants (91.9 percent) used universal health coverage, and more than half reported having a QoL at a moderate level (67.75%) or low level (26.02%). Only a few individuals reported having a high QoL (6.23%). Linear regression analysis revealed that age, sex, self-esteem, family relationships, and community participation affected the QoL of elderly individuals. The self-care model was found to be an effective intervention for the QoL of elderly people. This model enhanced the QoL of elderly people by increasing their knowledge of self-care. The model also increased the cooperation of community network groups to support and create an environment for elderly individuals.