A PREPARATION FOR BEING AN ACTIVE AGEING IN CONTEXT OF THAI SOCIETY

Abstract

The objectives of this study were: 1) to study readiness and ways of preparation for being an active ageing of adults; 2) to study a preparation for being an ageing and courses of life of an active ageing; and 3) to synthesize ways of preparation for being an active ageing based on Buddhadhamma. It is a mixed method between a quantitative research and qualitative one.
A questionnaire is used for collecting quantitative data from 448 adults with 40-59 years old and an In-depth Interview is used for collecting qualitative data from 7 elderly. Results of the quantitative data analysis revealed that respondents with different sex, age, marital status, a number of children, education, income, residence and any chronic health conditions did not have a different preparation for being an ageing, whereas respondents with different occupation, social activities and Buddhist activities had a different preparation for being an ageing. Moreover, an ageing thought that the preparation for being an ageing should start from the childhood by parent’s close care, the understanding of Buddhadhamma enhanced a heedful life, and the Buddhadhamma for the preparation for being an ageing included Five Precepts and Sublime States of Mind. The form of knowledge got from the study included the way of “MORALITY”, the control of body, verbal and mind, and the way for the period of being an active ageing called “QUALITY”, the reinforcement of an ageing’s good quality of life and self-reliance.