Integration of Buddhist Principles for Welfare Management for the Elderly of the Ban Chang Subdistrict Administrative Organization Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research aims to achieve three primary objectives: 1) analyze the management system of elderly welfare, 2) compare the approaches to welfare provision across multiple dimensions, and 3) propose welfare management strategies that integrate Buddhist principles. The research employs a mixed-methods approach. For the quantitative part, data was collected from 232 elderly individuals in the area through questionnaires, and the data was analyzed using statistical methods such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. For the qualitative part, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine key informants, and the data was analyzed using descriptive content analysis.

The results revealed that: 1) the management of elderly welfare in Ban Chang Subdistrict Administrative Organization was at a very high level, 2) the comparison of welfare provisions in areas such as education, health, income, social services, and recreational activities showed that welfare provision was at a high level. There were no significant differences based on gender, education level, or monthly income, but differences were found in terms of age, marital status, and residence. 3) The proposed welfare management strategies for the elderly should focus on developing modern databases, monitoring and evaluation processes, promoting good governance, and enhancing health services to improve the overall quality of life of the elderly.