A five-year research project focused on improving the health of indigenous seniors in Northern Ontario and Saskatchewan has received a $1.4 million federal grant.
The study, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), is being carried out by geriatrician Dr. Janet McElhaney and her team at the Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI).
It will identify the needs of Indigenous seniors living with multiple conditions, develop and adapt interventions to address the health issues and barriers for seniors and evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.
Indigenous populations in Canada are rapidly aging and facing a rise in multiple chronic diseases and disabilities, said a press release.
These chronic health conditions include diabetes and dementia, and they're starting in middle age, not just in the elderly population, said McElhaney, HSNRI's vice-president of research and scientific director.
“This not only impacts on how we care for seniors in communities, but people's employment opportunities when your risk is starting at age 45,” she said.
With these chronic conditions comes the risk of related disabilities such as amputations, she said.
McElhaney said her research team will be working closely with indigenous communities, and will even hire locals.
“This isn't just about employing people within our research institute, we are also employing people right in the communities to be conducting this research,” she said, speaking at a Dec. 4 press conference.
There's a significant gap in health and life expectancy between indigenous peoples and other Canadians, said Dr. Carrie Bourassa, scientific director of the CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health.
They also “experience considerably higher rates of diabetes and other diseases than the rest of the community,” she said.
“CIHR is proud to support such innovative research,” Bourassa said.
“It is our hope that this project will generate the evidence we need to improve the health and well-being of indigenous seniors, and take us one step closer to reducing the health inequities that currently exist between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in Canada.”
Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre spoke at the funding announcement on behalf of Minister of Health Ginette Petitpas Tayor.
“As you know, the health of our indigenous populations is a priority,” he said. “Our indigenous populations are rapidly aging. With this rise in age comes a rise in chronic diseases and related disabilities.
“Indeed more than half of indigenous people 65 and older report limitations in their ability to live an independent lifestyle. Through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, we are taking action to find solutions to these issues."
