Engaging Indigenous older adults with technology use to respond to health and well-being concerns and needs

Abstract

Increased access to technology can promote independent living, stimulate cognitive functioning, relieve caregiver stress, improved telehealth access, increase overall well-being, and be used to share cultural resources such as Indigenous language applications. Many Indigenous older adults would like to learn more about technology and recognize the value of technology in supporting healthy ageing; however, as Morning Star Lodge has previously determined, accessibility and readiness were key factors in the use of this technology. Utilizing the guiding principles of the Model of Engaging Communities Collaboratively and the Ethical Engagement Training Module, Morning Star Lodge partnered with the Star Blanket Cree Nation to support the healthy lifestyle of 6 Indigenous older adults by increasing their access to and engagement with culturally safe technology solutions individual to their specific health and lifestyle needs. These co-researchers were provided with tablets, MiFis (mobile internet access), and learning workshops and were interviewed pre- and post-workshops to assess their comfort level with the device and information received. Additionally, these interviews assessed how the technology helped to address the health needs of the co-researchers. The findings demonstrated that the technology met the health needs of the older adults, particularly with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to stay connected to loved ones. Given the need during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to stay semi-isolated at this time due to older Indigenous adults being susceptible to the virus; the information gained through this work will support public health workers in responding to the needs of older Indigenous adults using technology to meet their health and well-being. There is also a significant need for pandemic preparedness work to be done with Indigenous communities and this work could inform this in part.

A rural teledentistry care experience: a geriatric approach to assessing oral health status and treatment needs in older adults from a Mapuche community in Chile

“…This approach also enabled the expression of specific concepts in Mapuzugun. The significance of community involvement and consideration of Indigenous perspectives has been previously emphasized (100,101), and in this case, the program was approved by community leaders but designed and executed without active community participation, highlighting an area of priority for building trust and partnership in future initiatives. It is worth noting that the older individuals who participated were those with the means to travel to the remote care setting, potentially introducing a participation bias.…”