Samut Prakan: OKMD collaborates with the Thai Red Cross Society to launch 'OKMD Senior Plearn Ground,' a model creative learning space for seniors emphasizing brain-based learning to promote well-being in four dimensions and support active aging and lifelong learning.
According to Thai News Agency, the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD), a public organization, has partnered with the Thai Red Cross Society to unveil 'OKMD Senior Plearn Ground,' a creative learning space for senior citizens. This space spans over 2,000 square meters at the Sawangkhaniwas Thai Red Cross Society in Samut Prakan province. The initiative aims to develop a model environment to support Thailand's transition to a fully aging society, using Brain-based Learning (BBL) concepts to connect learning, movement, rehabilitation, and social interaction, promoting active living and lifelong learning.
This project represents a comprehensive collaborative effort for area development, encompassing surveying, design, construction, and landscape improvement. It integrates OKMD's learning expertise with the Thai Red Cross Society's expertise in rehabilitation medicine and geriatric care, aiming to create an environment conducive to learning, rehabilitation, and a high quality of life for senior citizens.
Dr. Parametee Wimonsiri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OKMD, stated that the opening and handover of the OKMD Senior Plearn Ground marks a significant milestone in creating innovative spaces to support Thailand's transition to a fully aging society. This aligns with OKMD's core mission of promoting lifelong learning and human capital development through knowledge management, in order to create a public learning system and foster the creation of intellectual capital among the people.
The design of OKMD Senior Plearn Ground arranges the space based on five key dimensions: a friendly atmosphere, appropriate media and equipment, safe management, creative and intergenerational activities, and comprehensive facilities. This promotes well-being in four dimensions: physical, mental, emotional, and social, through learning stations and experiential learning journeys that connect various activities. Key areas include the "Book House and Gallery," a space for reading, meditation, brain-training games, art activities, and showcasing senior citizens' artwork. This space also facilitates intergenerational learning, where youth volunteers can read books, tell stories, or participate in activities with the seniors, fostering relationships and learning across generations.
The "Health Walk and Balance Bridge" is designed as an indoor and outdoor exercise path, complete with a safety-standard balance bridge to help improve balance, enhance body coordination, and reduce the risk of falls, a significant concern for the elderly.
The "Exercise and Sensory Stimulation Area" is equipped with equipment that helps strengthen the body, improve dexterity, accuracy, muscle coordination, and working memory, while simultaneously stimulating the senses through various textures and plants such as fig trees, gardenia, and pleated palms. It also features an "Edible Garden" planted with vegetables and herbs like chili peppers, basil, and holy basil, allowing seniors to learn and engage their senses through the surrounding nature.
"Larn Plearn" is a garden and relaxation area under the shade of nature, providing senior citizens with opportunities to experience nature through sight, touch, smell, and activities that stimulate the senses. It also serves as a space for meeting, conversing, and fostering social interaction.
The "multipurpose activity area" can accommodate a wide variety of activities related to physical health, mental well-being, social interaction, and learning. These include group stretching activities, brain-training games, art activities, music therapy, singing, and chair exercises, ensuring that senior citizens with mobility limitations can still participate appropriately and equally.
Dr. Tawarut Sutabutr, Director of OKMD, stated that the success of the project stems from the strong collaboration between OKMD and the Thai Red Cross Society. Together, they developed the space not only for physical aesthetics but also for creating a learning environment, promoting happiness, safety, and independence for senior citizens, enabling them to live meaningful lives and participate in various activities. On this occasion, OKMD handed over the OKMD Senior Plearn Ground to the Thai Red Cross Society for use in promoting the quality of life for senior citizens. The goal is for this space to serve as a model for disseminating and expanding knowledge on designing learning spaces for the elderly to networks and other areas nationwide. The opening ceremony was held as an "Opening Experience" instead of a traditional opening ceremony, allowing executives, senior citizens, and attendees to participate in hands-on activities and experiences. These included trying out exercise equipment, planting "trees of le arning," reading books, creating art, playing brain-training games, walking on a sensory-stimulating path, and participating in music therapy activities. This reflects the space's concept of "learning, creating happiness, and building value" through real-life experiences.
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