The community's meanings of the older people who require assistance : Mae Sariang municipality, Mae Sariang district, Mae Hong Son province

Abstract

The purpose of this critical ethnography was to study the meaning of the older people who require assistance according perspective of community in Mae Sariang municipality, Mae Sariang  District, Mae Hong Son Province. The data collected by observation, in-depth interview and focus group discussion with 84 informants. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The results found that there were four groups of existed resulting in the older people who require assistance, including 1) dependent group, who have physical and potential limitation in living their life, 2) poverty person, 3) living alone and 4)who suffer from access to the basic right and opportunity. The findings suggest problems and needs in life scene of the older people who require assistance, which would lead to the situation of care that related the needs and developing of community care system for the older people with is appropriated with the socio-cultural context of the area.