en عمومى General پژوهشي Research <strong>Introduction:</strong> As rapid urbanizing spreads throughout Thailand, the combination of urban<span dir="RTL">-</span>rural lifestyle has been gradually found<span dir="RTL">.</span> These changes may effect on health pattern of the older adults<span dir="RTL">.</span> This study was aimed to explore the incidence of health problems and life styles of the elderly in urban<span dir="RTL">-</span>rural areas<span dir="RTL">.</span><br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>Methods:</strong> A random interview survey with qualitative approach was used<span dir="RTL">.</span> Data were randomly collected from 14 areas in central sub<span dir="RTL">-</span>districts of Nakhonratchasima province, Thailand<span dir="RTL">.</span> Twenty<span dir="RTL">-</span>five older adults in each area were interviewed<span dir="RTL">.</span> The recording forms consisted of demographic data, perceived health status and health problems, medication use, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, mental health, social and religious activities, and accommodation and environment<span dir="RTL">.</span> Non<span dir="RTL">-</span>invasive physical examinations of the elderly were performed by weighing, measuring height and testing muscle strength with one leg standing<span dir="RTL">.</span><br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>Results:</strong> Most of the elderly reported having at least one chronic disease and<span dir="RTL">/</span>or degenerative problems that had impact on their daily lives<span dir="RTL">.</span> Forty percent rated their health status as moderate to poor, 18<span dir="RTL">%</span> encountered falls while 18<span dir="RTL">%</span> were hospitalized in the past six months<span dir="RTL">.</span> Only one<span dir="RTL">-</span>third underwent an annual health check<span dir="RTL">&ndash;</span>up while 30<span dir="RTL">%</span> of the female had cancer cervix screening<span dir="RTL">.</span> Most of the elderly could perform daily tasks on their own with assistive instruments and were healthy in mind<span dir="RTL">.</span> However, many of them drank tap water without boiling or filtering<span dir="RTL">.</span><br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>Conclusion</strong>: The older adults in the urban<span dir="RTL">-</span>rural areas had access to health care services and had a good health status<span dir="RTL">.</span> However, their health promotion and prevention behaviors are questionable<span dir="RTL">.</span> Elderly, Health Status, Suburban Health, Well-being, Health Patterns 108 116 http://ehj.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-170-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Nutthita Petchprapai nutthita2004@hotmail.com 0000-0003-0536-9256 Yes Department of Adult and Elderly Nursing, Institute of Nursing, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand