The Social Welfare Service Needs of the Elderly in the Khlong Sok Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Phanom District, Surat Thani Province

Abstract

This research aims to: 1) examine the provision of social welfare services for the elderly in the jurisdiction of the Khlong Sok Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Phanom District, Surat Thani Province; 2) explore the needs of the elderly regarding social welfare; and 3) propose guidelines for welfare arrangements that effectively address these needs. A qualitative research approach was employed, with data collected through in-depth interviews from 24 key informants, including four administrators and officials from the Subdistrict Administrative Organization, social development and welfare officers, and 20 elderly representatives aged 60 years and above. The collected data were analyzed and synthesized using descriptive content analysis.

The findings revealed that: 1) The Khlong Sok Subdistrict Administrative Organization provides social welfare services for the elderly in four main areas: healthcare and public health, which includes budget allocation for elderly healthcare and home-visit services by healthcare personnel; education, which includes learning activities through elderly schools and study tours; employment, which involves vocational training by local non-formal and informal education institutions to equip the elderly with skills for supplementary income generation; and financial support, which involves allocating and disbursing state-funded allowances to elderly beneficiaries. 2) The elderly’s needs for social welfare services include having officials visit their homes to provide care and consultation, having experts conduct educational sessions at elderly schools, receiving agricultural training for income-generating activities, and increasing financial allowances. 3) The proposed guidelines for social welfare provision based on the needs of the elderly include conducting surveys to inform elderly individuals of their eligibility for financial allowances, promoting awareness of available activities and services, providing transportation services for access to welfare programs, establishing service networks for elderly welfare provision, and offering health and nutrition guidance tailored to the elderly population.