The Development of Buddhist Places for Elderly People Care Center Settlement in Thailand

Abstract

Objectives of this article were to analyze the readiness and difficultness  of Buddhist places to set up the self-care centers for elderly people in Thailand, using the mixed research methods: the qualitative research collected data from 18 key informants by in-depth-interviewing and from 12 participants in focus group discussion and analyzed data by descriptive interpretation. The quantitative research collected data from 398 samples in 8 provinces; Samutsongkram, Samutprakran, Khonkaen, Chaiyabhum, Chiangmai, Chaingrai, Nakonsrithummarat and Suratthani provinces, and analyzed data by descriptive statistics.   Findings were as follows: 8 monasteries ready in physical context to serve elderly people care center (65.2 percentage) theun-readiness was(34.8 percentage). Almost all monasteries were ready to support the elderly people care centers. The majority of monasteries were peaceful and tranquil environment to support the well beings of elderly people.