Healthy Seniors

The Challenge

The importance of seniors and Elders cuts across our immensely diverse Aboriginal cultures and communities. Elders and senior community members were traditionally recognized for their role in providing guidance and passing on language, cultural teachings and practices to younger generations. The health and well-being of Aboriginal seniors has been impacted by colonization – both directly (i.e. residential schooling) and indirectly (i.e. changes in family and community structures). In addition to having a shorter life span, Aboriginal seniors are more likely to live in poverty, face unemployment, or reside in housing that requires major repair than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. As with the broader Aboriginal population, Aboriginal seniors are also more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis/rheumatism and cancer.

The need for increased attention to the health of our seniors is growing: the Aboriginal senior population doubled between 1996 and 2006 and is anticipated to increase another twofold by 2017 (Statistics Canada, 2007). Women outnumber men among the Aboriginal senior population and face additional challenges and disparities associated with their gender. NWAC is committed to utilizing a culturally-relevant gender-based analysis (CRGBA) approach (for more information, see NWAC’s culturally-relevant gender analysis tool or CRGAT) to identifying and responding to issues of health and well-being among senior Aboriginal women.

The Program

Currently, NWAC’s efforts in addressing the health and well-being of senior Aboriginal women are focused in a qualitative research project exploring senior abuse. However, NWAC will continue to pursue funding for further research, programming and policy development to promote the health and well-being of senior Aboriginal women.

The Opportunity

Identifying and responding to the health needs of senior Aboriginal women will also improve the health and well-being of those around them – their families, communities and Nations. NWAC will continue to advocate for increased funding and attention to the health of senior Aboriginal women, and to develop partnerships and collaborations with other national Aboriginal organizations