More live-in health-care is needed for Indigenous elders in Canada. As our Indigenous population is aging, there are a growing number in Indigenous elders who are in need of intensive, personalised and professional care. Institutions should be established to care for these elders in their communities. The government and band leadership should work together to build and establish these institutions in reserves because they are not available in most Indigenous communities. Indigenous health is poorer then the general population (Hampton et al., 2010, p.370), and as such when it comes to live-in health-care, consideration of Indigenous issues is more important than ever. Many of these elders have chronic illnesses and need higher levels of care and support in their old age (Wilson et al., 2010, p.7).
One strategy to care for the growing number of Indigenous elders that has been suggested is the establishment of an institute such as an elder’s care home on reserves. This home would be run in a traditional manner to respect the elder’s heritage. One source suggests a few ways in which to adapt and respect the Indigenous elders care, and argues that such facilities should,
“provide large family rooms where large groups of extended family and community members can gather to cook, pray, support each other [...] alter hospital policy for traditional spiritual practices [...] offer cross-cultural education for health care professionals [and] make health care providers aware of culturally appropriate resources” (Wilson et al., 2010, p.13).
These suggestions reflect cultural importance and address community and family needs, and should be implemented in any care homes for Indigenous elders on reserves.
The establishment of these institutions are important because they address the needs of Indigenous elders. Elders are well respected within Indigenous communities and people within these communities should work on establishing care homes to provide the support and meet health needs elders require.
-Kerri
-Kerri
Abonyi, S., Lovelace, R., Rosenberg, M., Wilson, K. (2010). Aging and Health: An Examination of Differences between Older Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal People. Canadian Journal on Aging, 29, 369-382 doi:10.1017/S071498081000030
Baydala, A., Boekelder, R., Bourassa, C., Goodwill, K., Hampton, M., Placsko, C, et al. (2010). Elders speak about end-of-life care with Aboriginal families in Canada. Journal of Palliative Care, 26(1), 6-14. Retrieved from CBCA Complete.
Hey, good job on the post. I totally agree that more needs to be done when it comes to caring for the seniors on reserves. They do need their own spaces, especially when there is a lack of housing and the majority of the homes that are located within reserves tend to be overcrowded. The problem with this is the lack of funding from the government. Not only would something like this help the seniors on reserves but the community as well, since there needs to be a workforce to help run and regulate the place.
ReplyDelete- Jody
I agree that this should be done, but it does not surprise me that it has not yet happened. Since issues regarding aboriginal people are placed on the back burner by the Canadian government, sadly, I don't see much changing unless everyone takes a stand and brings issues such as this into the public eye so that there is no way anyone can deny it's existence. I believe that is the only way social policies can ever change, especially because the majority of people really have no idea what goes on outside of their communities aside from what they see on television or hear on the radio, so why not open their eyes to a whole new world?
ReplyDeleteAlyssa
I think the addition of elderly care homes on reserves is a wonderful idea. Having the comforts of things such as large family rooms in these care homes should be considered so making the transition to a care home can be an easier one for the elderly. Good post.
ReplyDelete-Yodit
There are many health problems which elders people faces and it is important that they get good care in their old age. A good home care services should be hired for proving good care to our love ones.
ReplyDelete