Project News

Ms. Nipa Juansom (left) and Ms. Nuttita Panyacom (right)

Aey works as a social worker at Dindaeng Services Center for the Elderly. Jung is a registered nurse working at Health Center No. 4 (Dindaeng). Both of us are care managers for the pilot site in Bangkok. We would like to introduce the lovely elderly couple from our Bangkok site.

Aunt Somjit (78 years old) and Uncle Samrueng (69 years old) have been in couple life for many years. Even they are 9 years old apart, their love is complete and so impressive.

Aunt Somjit has many diseases which are hypertension, dementia, glaucoma, and heart disease. She also had the operation and now is living with the artificial bone in her hip making the living condition more difficult. Moreover, 11 years ago, a stroke attacked her resulting in left-sided hemiparesis; she needed feeding through tube, lied in bed and had bedsores. When this case was firstly found, the ADL score was 0. However, not everything around her is so terrible, luck exists as she has got lovely husband and children who always mentally support and empower her.

In every single day, Uncle Samrueng whom she has been sharing her life with, will take care of her so well: cleanliness and support to other daily life activities. He willingly treats his wife with care yet acts like she is not a vulnerable person. Often, they sing together, making laugh and smiles leading to good mental health in both lives. Actually, all family members are good-tempered and good-humored. They have strong morale in taking care of the aunt no matter how it is serious or difficult. What appears familiar to us when we visit this case is "the scene that the uncle carried the aunt walking down to the first floor to see their children selling Khao Mun Kai (chicken rice) in front of house". He does it every day so that the aunt can feel the circumstance and talk to other people around not only staying alone in a room.

Uncle Samrueng (left) and Aunt Somjit (right)

From all love and care in treating the patient as she is not a burden but a part of the family and because all family members are responsible for this matter and cooperate well with the health care and social welfare officers in charge, this results in good physical and mental conditions of Aunt Somjit. We can clearly see the change in ADL score which be raised from 0 to 6. And presently, the aunt is able to eat by herself and move her toes to the music.

This is a sample of the unconditional love: love to give. We title this as "Love in form of long-term care": the impressive case of Bangkok site.

LTOP Project Care Team

LTOP Project Care Team