A MODEL DEVELOPMENT FOR ENHANCING THE POTENTIAL OF THE ELDERLY THROUGH THE STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING ANALYSIS

Abstract

This mixed-methods research aimed to 1) study the factors affecting the potential of the elderly in Ratchaburi province, 2) create a model for enhancing the potential of the elderly using structural equation modeling, and 3) test the feasibility
of the model in Ratchaburi province. Quantitative data were collected from 400 elderly individuals through questionnaires and analyzed using basic statistics and structural equation modeling. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 9 community leaders. The findings revealed that most respondents were female, aged 61-65 years, with primary education, employed, married, had 2-3 children, earned less than or equal to 9,000 baht per month, owned their homes, and lived with 1-2 people. Personal Health, Economic, Social, Environmental, and Technological Factors, as well as innovation model development, were all deemed important. The structural equation model revealed that social and environmental factors have a strong influence on the development of the innovation model, followed
by personal health, economic, and technological factors. The model equation is
IMD = 0.820*SSF + 0.791*PHF + 0.684*EF + 0.693*TF, with an R² of 0.642, which indicates that these factors explain 64.2% of the variance in innovation model development.

The model suggests that enhancing social and environmental factors, such as family support,

community participation, and cultural engagement, significantly improves innovation effectiveness for the elderly. It also highlights the roles of personal health, technology access, and economic stability in enabling older adults to benefit from such innovations. The model was applied through the “Map Walking Project,” which integrates wearable devices and mapping technology to monitor health and enhance the quality of life of elderly individuals in Ratchaburi Province.