Grant: CIHR Fellowship

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest proportions of older adults in Canada and the highest proportion of the population living in rural or remote areas, yet many communities lack age-friendly features. Along the Atlantic coast of southern Labrador in NunatuKavut traditional territory, the population is dispersed over many small Inuit fishing villages with Cartwright in the Sandwich Bay area being the main hub. Community members here are strong and resilient people who draw on shared culture, history, and connection to the natural environment to promote wellness. The remote location has some expected barriers to age-friendliness, but recent climate change-related factors have introduced additional challenges to healthy aging that require innovative, culturally appropriate solutions. Research evaluating the outcomes of age-friendly community initiatives is sparse in Newfoundland and Labrador. Existing research suggests age-friendly initiatives require attention to increase their relevance to remote and Indigenous communities. In partnership with NunatuKavut Community Council and the Sandwich Bay 50+ Club, this research program aims to answer the following questions: 1) How do the needs of older adults in Sandwich Bay compare to existing AFC frameworks and 2) How do older adults in Sandwich Bay conceptualize age-friendliness and healthy aging in their communities? Data will be gathered using a culturally and contextually adapted age-friendly community survey and sharing circles to identify local priorities/needs and determine the actions needed to promote age-friendliness in Sandwich Bay. This study will contribute new evidence to health promotion policy and scholarship on adapting age-friendly initiatives in a remote, Indigenous context.