Guidelines for developing needed skills and competencies of the elderly in Thailand

Abstract

This article is part of a study on skills and competencies needed for the elderly, aiming to propose guidelines for developing the needed skills and competencies for the elderly in Thailand. Qualitative data was collected using two procedures. Firstly, a literature review was conducted, analyzed, and synthesized using a document analysis form. Secondly, the needed skills and competencies of the elderly and the guidelines for developing the skills and competencies was investigated and confirmed using focus group discussion questions. The research findings are as follows: 1) the government should form a committee to formulate laws, rules, and regulations that promote the participation of various sectors to develop the skills and competencies; 2) the government should set up the representative mechanism to develop life and work skills and competencies; 3) the government should create an elderly database system and develop a central database system; 4) the government should set the criteria and methods for motivating the elderly to develop needed skills and competencies throughout their lives; 5) an integrated working group should formulate practical guidelines for concrete development of essential skills and competencies; 6) the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society should urgently issue policies regarding digital justice for people of all ages, especially the elderly population; and 7) the Ministry of Education should formulate policies, mechanisms and measures to enhance and develop the skills and competencies that are essential, as well as prepare people of all ages to fully enter the aging society of Thailand.