Enhancing care for aging Baby Boomers through SSDS participation: roles and approaches in the digital era

This study investigated the roles and participatory strategies of Students of Social Development Studies (SSDS) in caring for Baby Boomer older adults in Thailand. It addressed a gap by examining how SSDS integrated intergenerational approaches and digital technologies into community elderly care. The study aimed to identify SSDS caregiving roles and examine how participatory processes enhanced older adults’ well-being. A research and development (R&D) approach was employed. Twenty-four key informants, comprising 12 SSDS and 12 Baby Boomer older adults, were selected through purposive and stratified sampling. Data were collected through document analysis, in-depth interviews, focus groups, participatory observation, and workshops. Qualitative content and action-based analyses were conducted, with triangulation enhancing trustworthiness. Findings showed that SSDS performed caregiving roles across dimensions: physical, psychological, social, and economic, including health promotion, emotional support, financial guidance, and community participation. These roles were coordinated through the B-W-R-R (Home–Temple–School–Hospital) collaborative model, integrating community care. The ELASTIC+ framework linked caregiving roles with four participatory stages: Thinking, Interacting, Contributing, and Evaluating Plus. Rather than proposing a new theory, it operationalized Role Theory, participatory development, and active ageing perspectives in Thailand. The findings highlight implications for social development education, community practice, and ageing policy.