Community Empowerment: The Process of Raising Awareness and Setting Shared Goals to Develop Self-Worth Mechanisms among Older Adults in a Multicultural Community

Abstract

This study aimed to facilitate the process of raising awareness and setting shared goals to develop self-worth mechanisms among older adults in a multicultural community. Participatory action research was employed, engaging older adults, community leaders, and network partners throughout all stages of implementation. The population consisted of 1,213 older adults aged 60 years and above in Nong Nom Wua Subdistrict, Lat Yao District, Nakhon Sawan Province. The purposive sample consisted of 45 participants, including older adults, community leaders, public health volunteers, monks, and representatives of local network partners. Key informants included community leaders, representatives of the Subdistrict Administrative Organization, monks, youth, and civil society representatives to provide in-depth information on the community’s social and cultural capital. Research instruments comprised: (1) field observation records, (2) SWOT analysis forms, (3) key message recording forms, and (4) community reflection forum records. Data were collected and analyzed through a four-step process: planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. Descriptive content analysis was used, and data accuracy was verified through triangulation. The findings revealed that, during the planning stage, field visits to meet community leaders and older adults from nine villages helped build shared understanding and establish development goals accepted by all stakeholders. In the implementation stage, knowledge-sharing forums and joint analysis of local conditions led to agreements on subdistrict-level development in the form of a memorandum of understanding, which served as a key mechanism for fostering self-worth among older adults. During the observation stage, older adults participated actively, experienced a sense of pride, and became aware of their own value. In the reflection stage, older adults and network partners felt ownership of the activities, which contributed to sustainable development initiatives and collective efforts to improve the quality of life of older adults in the multicultural community. This research process effectively facilitated the creation of shared awareness and goals, increased older adults’ self-recognition and self-worth, and promoted the development of sustainable social mechanisms based on cooperation among households, temples, schools, and government agencies.