Thai ARi stemmed from Chulalongkorn University Platform for Ageing Research Innovation, ‘Chula ARi’, funded by Chulalongkorn University’s Empowerment Program or The Second Century Fund (C2F).  This three-year long Chula ARi multi-disciplinary project started in 2018 by College of Population Studies.  It sought to create knowledge, innovation, and area-based research studies in the field of geriatrics, purposely to impact the government’s national policies to support aging that would enhance the well-being and livelihood of older adults.  After the successful completion of Bangkok-centric Chula ARi, the project was expanded and implemented in 2021 under the name, Thai ARi, with funding from Research and Innovation Funds from National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), with the body of knowledge, innovations, and research findings obtained from Bangkok-based Chula Ari.  The purpose of this extension is to utilize and maximize the benefits from Chula ARi for senior citizens in communities in other provinces in Thailand.  The Thai spelling of the acronyms ARis in both in Thai ARi and Chula ARi project names are carefully chosen to mean compassion in the English language.

Thai ARi is collaborative efforts of Chulalongkorn University’s multidisciplinary departments and local educational institutions, communities, and organizations to build ‘Active Aging and Aged-friendly Community’, aiming to better the quality of life of senior citizens, resulting in their strengthened communities that are empowering to the members.  The project is implemented in four smaller provinces—Lampang, Chumphon, Chaiyaphum, and Chon Buri.  The community of Sichang Island is selected as a main research area for Chon Buri Province, with Phra Chudhadhuj Palace Museum under Office of Art and Culture, Chulalongkorn University, under the leadership of Wandee Rakchat, Head of Phra Chudhadhuj Ratchathan Palace Museum, who is also a strong Si Chang community leader, was selected as the center for operation. 

On Thai ARi research project, Phra Chudhadhuj Palace Museum collaborates with local organizations and government offices, namely, Koh Sichang District Office, Koh Sichang Subdistrict Municipality Office, Koh Sichang School, Koh Sichang Hospital, and Office of Social Development and Human Security, six Village Headmen, community heads, and Sichang senior citizens.  The operations under Thai ARi project are:

  1. Disseminating and updating research innovations and data collection from Chula Ari project to use as tools for understanding the nature, potentials, and challenges in the Sichang community, and utilizing research results in contextual-appropriate strategic planning and operation to enhance the livelihood and well-being of senior citizens in the Sichang community, as well as following up and evaluation of the operations. 
  2. Developing systems and mechanisms, based on lesson learned and research findings from Chula ARi, to support aging society and promote active aging, and also integrative quality living on Sichang Island.  The target areas are Healthcare, Technology and Innovation, Physical Environment, Economy and Public Participation, and Population and Society.  The emphasis is placed on active participation of change agents in the community.  The mechanisms designed are in accordance with National Strategy, Masterplan to Support Aging Society, Masterplan for Human Potential Development, The Second National Plan on the Elderly, and The Third Operational Aging Plan.  

The operation of Thai ARi, since its initial implementation in February 2021, yielded the following programs to develop quality of life for elderly in different areas:

Healthcare:

  • A study on telerehabilitation medicine for healthy elderly in the community by Assoc. Prof. Krisna Piravej, M.D., Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.  As part of this study, a Chula ARi Ninja robot has been given to Koh Sichang Hospital to provide care for the elderly.
  • A program for developing a visitation system at Koh SIchang Hospital for bed-ridden elderly patients.
  • Preventive Long-Term Care Program for Koh Sichang Hospital.

Technology and Innovation:

  • A workshop on using LINE chat application for the elderly on Sichang Island
  • A courier drone to deliver medical supplies and medications from the mainland to Koh Sichang Hospital

Physical Environment:

  • A program to develop a system to support aging society in the Eastern Region urban context.  To date, in a collaboration with the Municipality Office of Sichang Island, the project has built a multi-purpose public activity area for the elderly.

Economy and Public Participation:

  • Workshop projects for occupational training for the elderly, for instnace, making herbal massage oil and tie-dyeing. 
  • Workshop projects for producing marketing products.
  • Workshop projects given by the youths from Koh Sichang School to promote online marketing for products made by the elderly.

Population and Society:

  • Projects to develop local innovators to recruit and train volunteers to visit abandoned elderly.
  • Projects to transmit body of knowledge from the elderly.
  • Projects to create an awareness and prepare the transition into senior age.