Success Factors of the Senior Schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and an Educational Institution

Abstract

Thailand’s older populations aged 60 years and over will be increased by 20 percent in 2021. Non-communicable diseases were the main cause of deaths in Thai older people while annual health expenditure costed the government around 200 billion baht. Health promotion through senior schools was one of the strategies to reduce the country’s health expenditure. This study aimed to investigate the administration of senior schools including older people health promotion behaviors of senior schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and an educational institution, and to explore success factors of the senior schools. The research design was a mixed method consisting of qualitative research of in-depth interviews with senior school directors and staffs regarding the administration, and quantita­tive comparative research on health promotion behaviors of older people in two types of senior schools. Data were analyzed using independent t-test. The results showed that the management of senior schools were different in terms of management process and budget support. Health promotion behaviors of the older people were significantly different at 0.05 level in the aspect of spiritual development and stress management. There was no difference in the aspect of overall health promotion behaviors. Recommen­dations to promote older people’s health in Bangkok were the policy supporting older people and budget allocation for senior schools of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Policymakers should study more on senior schools’ management including factors that influence older people’s nutrition and exercise behavior in the communities of Bangkok.