Active Ageing from Children s Perspectives: A Case Study in Northeastern Thailand Duangduan Rattanamongkolgul Assoc.Prof. Wanapa Sritanyarat Assoc.Prof. Khanitta Nuntaboot Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University Khon Kaen, Thailand 1
Ageing is a process that begins at birth 2
The study Qualitative study The aim is to describe the perspectives of children on how they propose to prepare themselves to go through ageing process or active ageing A municipal community in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern of Thailand The study area is urban and subject to rapid social change 3 3
The Study Population The population is diverse in terms of education, occupation, hometown, economic, religion Two sub-communities with 919 houses, 1174 families, 4653 residents, including 595 (12.8%) older people (age at > 60 yrs) Limited residential and daycare for very elderly people is available 4
School A Data collection Participants Group 1: 5 girls (11-12 yrs) Focus group discussions (Primary school) Group 2: 10 boys (11-12 yrs) School B (Secondary school) Group 3: 6 girls (11-12 yrs) Group 4: 6 boys (11-12 yrs) Group 5: 3 girls & 3 boys (13-15 yrs) Data Analysis Content analyses Ethical considerations 5
Focus group participants Primary school level: 27 children 33 Participants (aged 11-12 years) Secondary school level:6 children (aged 13-15 years) 14 girls 19 boys Findings Health status Healthy: 30 children Underlying disease: 3 children With parents, brother& sister: 17 children Living With parents, grandparents, brother & sister: 12 children With grandparents: 2 children With relatives: 2 children 6
Findings: Focus on physical appearance 27 children: wrinkled skin, grey hair, having no teeth, loss of vision when getting older, the skin will be wrinkled having grey hair on head (Jack & Phew, 12 yrs old boys, FGD group2, 10 Nov 2009) getting older, having grey hair having wrinkled face and skin having loss of vision (Jazz, Pok,& Milk, 11 yrs old girls, FGD group1, 9 Nov 2009) older people having no teeth (Yim. 12 yrs old boy, FGD group4, 16 Nov 2009) 7
Ageing has a starting date 22 children: a person is ageing when older than 40, 50 or 60 years people start to get old when they are older than 40 and an ageing person is the one that is older than 60 according to an insurance advertisement on TV program. (Film, 11 yrs old girl, FGD group1, 9 Nov 2009) people who are older than 50 are ageing because at this age they are unhealthy (Tal, 11 yrs old girl, FGD group3, 16 Nov 2009) ageing is around 50-60 years but really older people are aged more than 60 (Got, 15 yrs old boy, FGD group5, 16 Nov 2009) older people are aged older than 60 and are persons who have more knowledge, and are more senior and more experience more than us (Jan, 11 yrs old girl, FGD group3, 16 Nov 2009) 8
Ageing leads to loss of function 10 Children: ageing leads to difficulty in movement, illness, underlying disease and memory loss I think ageing is being unable to help oneself, having to depend on others, and walking with a humpback (Noon, 15 yrs old girl, FGD group5, 16 Nov 2009) older people usually forget things, become unhealthy and have Diabetes Mellitus (Tape, 10 yrs old girl, FGD group3, 16 Nov 2009) older people have physical unhealthiness, osteoporosis, and usually fall when they walk I used to see when my grandpa fall 9 (Oak, 12 yrs old boy, FGD group2, 10 Nov 2009)
Aspirations for healthy ageing I would like to be healthy ageing as well. I don t want to burden my offspring. (Tal, 11 yrs old girl, FGD group3, 16 Nov 2009) I would like to be an older person who has no illness because I don t want to trouble other people and suffer myself (Pao, 12 yrs old boy, FGD group5, 16 Nov 2009) I would like to have a good memory because other people think that older people do not know anything and are easy to cheat (Jazz, 11 yrs old girl, FGD group1, 9 Nov 2009) 10
Children s aspirations include being wealthy I would like to feel comforted and not worry because I have a lot of money, I will employ a caregiver to look after me, and I wouldn t like the kids to be bored me (Candy, 12 yrs old girl, FGD group3, 16 Nov 2009) I would like to be rich, to be a boss so that there will be people to take care of me (Milk, 11 yrs old girl, FGD group1, 9 Nov 2009) If I have enough money, I will use it to care for myself or to spend it for transplantation of liver, kidney or arm (Ben, 11 yrs old boy, FGD group2, 10 Nov 2009) 11
Having children to care I would like offspring to take care of and be concerned about me when I am old (Ice, 10 yrs old girl, FGD group3, 16 Nov 2009) 12
Preparing for healthy ageing: Physical health I will do physical exercise, I wont drink and smoke. I will start preparing now, because if I get ill it may be too late for a cure (Deaw, 12 yrs old boy, FGD group4, 16 Nov 2009) I will do physical exercise regularly, have a balanced diet and drink milk. If we prepare ourselves now, we will receive good things in the future, such as we do not expect to have underlying disease when we are old. (Meaw, 14 yrs old girl, FGD group5, 16 Nov 2009) 13
Children will prepare their family I will teach my kids not to misbehave I will teach them to be good I will warn my kids not to drink and teach them not to be involved in addictive drugs (Jack, Ball, & Neung, 12 yrs old boys, FGD group2, 10 Nov 2009) Gratitude --- Katanyu katavedi 14
Economic status preparation I will save money to buy health insurance, (so that) if I am ill I will have money for cure I will save a lot of money to heal myself and not be a burden to my kids (Phil & Ball, 12 yrs old boys, FGD group2, 10 Nov 2009) I will save a lot of money for expenses and if I have a lot of money, I can have a liver, kidney, or arm transplantation (Ben, 11 yrs old boy, FGD group2, 10 Nov 2009) I will pay for life insurance from the bank so I will not be in trouble when I am old (Tal, 11 yrs old girl, FGD group3, 16 Nov 2009) 15
When should one start preparing for ageing? Most said at present, by doing little by little, continuously, until it becomes a habit Fewer said one should start after the age of 30-50 years Preparation for ageing is very important, if we don t start now but start when older, it will be not enough because our body cannot adapt well. So we should start now (Noon, 15 yrs old girl, FGD group5, 16 Nov 2009) The preparation should start from the early 30s, because at this age our body is beginning to not be strong (Jik, 10 yrs old girl, FGD group5, 16 Nov 2009) I will prepare myself when I am 50 years old, because at this age our bodies start to have fatigue and are not strong (Beam, 12 yrs old boy, FGD group4, 16 Nov 2009) 16
Conclusion Perception Children s Perspectives on Active Ageing Physical appearance Getting older Loss of function Characteristic Healthy ageing Being wealthy Having children Preparation Physical health Family preparation Economic status & investment 17
Acknowledgements Advisors Assoc.Prof. Dr.Wanapa Sritanyarat Assoc.Prof. Dr.Khanitta Nuntaboot Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Prof. Dr. Lenore Manderson, PhD FASSA FWAAS School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia Sponsors Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Thailand Thailand Nursing Council 18
Thank you for your kind attention 19