ทุนทางสังคม การให้ความหมายความสูงอายุ และการดูแลผู้สูงอายุในครอบครัว

Abstract

The thesis on Social Capital, Meanings of Aging and Taking Care of the Elderly in the Family was conducted through qualitative research. The purpose of this study is to investigate the valuing meaning of aging, as well as the relationship between social capital and the valuing meaning of aging and elderly care and support within families. The data was collected through the interview of 15 elderly caregivers in Neon Khiri Village, Tha Kham subdistrict, Tha Sae district, Chumphon Province. As for elderly caregiving in this study, the caregiving patterns are found to include, 1) caregiving in early and late stages, 2) caregiving by children and spouses, 3) caregiving by son and daughter, 4) sons and the caregiving role for female elderly and 5) characteristics of the living arrangements of caregivers and the elderly. The research findings revealed that caregivers perceive the meaning of aging based on their perceptions and experiences, both from caregiving situations and personal experiences. The meaning was perceived in 5 characteristics; 1) relationship between aging and physical and deteriorating health, 2) relationship between aging and the remaining time and lifespan, 3) relationship between aging and knowledge and accumulated experiences, 4) being the emotional support and focal point of the family and 5) defining aging in terms of active aging. For social capital and elderly care within the family, it is found that for cultural capital and elderly care by caregivers, it is still a matter of responsibility under the ethics and values that have been inherited in Thai society. Under the support of care provided by social capital, the caregiver maintains a close-knit relationship with family members, allowing the caregiver to have less burden of care as each family member performs their own part in supporting the care of the elderly. There are also neighbors and members of the village who all are familiar with one another, which is the common pattern of relationships in the context of a rural society where community members have close relationships that help and support one another clearly through assistance, support, and visits as well as asking for help during the illness. As for the economic capital, it was found to be a form of support for the elderly that derived from other forms of support. The burden of responsibility and personal expenses on the majority of caregivers often restrict their ability to financially support the elderly, thus providing support in alternative ways. The suggestions of this study are as follow; 1) The relationship between the caregiver and neighbor is the relationship with the exchange of generosity where people are helping one another, being both givers and receivers. This generosity creates mutual support in the long term, creating support and care in various aspects and enabling caregivers and the elderly to live in society without feeling isolated. 2) Ultimately, the elderly need someone to take care of them. Therefore, it is essential to encourage and support the positive values regarding aging as appropriate to the period of time. Also, family relationships should be strengthened in order to create the sense of duty that arises from love, attachment, and support within the family, whether it results in the elderly receiving care or in caregivers receiving assistance from other family members, thereby lightening the burden of caregiving, and 3) The elderly were being taken care of by a wife who herself is soon to be an elderly person. The situation where the elderly care for each other is concerning. Authorities and related agencies should have a plan to regularly monitor households with elderly individuals to understand their living conditions and caregiving situation of the caregivers in order to provide assistance if caregivers encounter problems during the caregiving process.