Grant: Project Grant

Indigenous seniors (IS) may face geographic, language, and cultural challenges in accessing health care, and day-to-day living supports, in addition to having a high risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, falls, impaired cognition, and incontinence due to aging. However, there is very limited information on the current health status of IS, as well as factors such as personal health behaviours and available healthcare services contributing to the IS' health, in remote northern communities in Canada. The Government of the Northwest Territories (NT) has asked the Indigenous and Global Health Research Group (IGHRG) to work together with local Indigenous communities to examine health status of and related issues facing seniors in two communities with large Indigenous populations: Inuvik and Yellowknife. One hundred-fifty IS will complete interviewer-administered questionnaires regarding health conditions, smoking, medication use, and access to healthcare services. Moreover, seniors, and stakeholders in senior care and health care will be invited to key informant interviews and formal and familial caregivers to sharing circles to enhance knowledge regarding barriers to and opportunities for improving health and health care services for IS in the NT. The results of this project will be shared with government and policy partners to be utilized in developing and implementing evidence-based programs with a potential to be adapted and used in other Indigenous communities across Canada.