Paper Title
RECOMMENDATION FOR ELDERLY SOCIAL SPACE IN SATELLITE OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT (S-OPD) IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR AGED SOCIETY

Abstract
Abstract - Thailand is facing the challenges of an aging society, leading to an increase in elderly patients in hospitals and a subsequent strain on hospital efficiency. To address this issue, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH Service plan 2018-2022) has implemented a policy to increase the potential of Satellite Out-Patient Department (S-OPD) to support patients with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and improve the efficiency of their treatment. However, the policy has been criticized for focusing only on the basic functional areas required, such as staff occupation (Criteria for establishing and adjusting the potential of health service units, 1st revised edition 2018), and lacking consideration for the quality of waiting time. Numerous research studies (Blokland-Plotters, 2003; Cattell et al., 2008), (Jamie Anderson, 2017), (Justin Zhuang, Kampung Admiralty,2020) have shown that social interaction can significantly impact the physical and mental health of patients. Thus, the question arises as to what activities elderly patients should engage in while waiting in the hospital or how social spaces can be developed to enhance their physical and mental health and that of their relatives. This research focuses on Ratchaburi Community Health Center and its NCDs elderly patients, using questionnaires and interviews to explore the potential of social spaces in the hospital and observe patient seating preferences. The findings suggest that most patients are satisfied with the social space and social interaction in the health center, as they are familiar with each other. Moreover, they create social activities outside of hospitals that promote their health. Keywords - Aged society, NCDs, Satellite OPD, Elderly Social space