When I researched the topic of Indigenous seniors with dementia I found some evidence that it is tradition for family members to take care of their seniors at home instead of placing them in a personal care home. According to Cox (2007), the most common traditional practice of North Dakota Indigenous peoples is to take the seniors into their homes and care for them. However, according to a study that was conducted in Manitoba, the Profile of Metis Health Status and Health Care Utilization in Manitoba (2010), it was found that home care use for the Metis is statistically higher than that for all other Winnipeggers. Perhaps this is due to Metis people choosing to take home care over entering into personal care homes.
Personally, I do feel it is good for Indigenous families to care for their own seniors at their homes but I do question the quality of care of Indigenous seniors with dementia are receiving. It is difficult to care for persons with Dementia; it requires 24 hour care and it is mentally and physically exhausting. According to a study conducted by Swatsky & Fowler-Kerry (2003), a group of urban women who cared for seniors and disabled persons described their experience as being a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week job responsibility unless you have respite. Although this study involved the informal caregivers’ experience of long term care of seniors, seniors with dementia may also be included. The article outline that the responsibilities of informal caregivers included: personal physical care special treatments, medication management, physical therapy, laundry, special meals; transportation, advocacy within the health care system, managing communication and memory problems, and dealing with emotional problems (p.279). This extensive list of potential duties may be too much for family member to have to do on a daily basis.
Although Indigenous cultural practices have had an impact in the decision for families to care for seniors with dementia, there are families who choose to place their loved ones in personal care homes. What are the options of personal care homes that are available to them? Where are families sending their seniors with dementia? Currently in Winnipeg there are no Aboriginal care personal homes but there is a need for people who are employed and are trained as caregivers; who are Indigenous, speak their language, and need to be familiar with culture and traditional practices.
In the fall of 2011, there is a 80 bed facility Indigenous Personal Care Home that will be opening (Winnipeg Free Press, 2009 September). This personal care home will be built on the south side of the city near the University of Manitoba. The province will be paying 19 million of the construction cost, and Southeast Resource Development Council will cover the remaining 2 million. According to Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Debbie Chief, a board member of the Southeast Resource Development Council, “Our Elders are afraid to be in a place that may be so unfamiliar to them.” So this development may or may not be a solution for Indigenous that require long term or intensive care, but it is still good to see that families will now have an option.
I am glad that I am doing my practicum at a personal care home practicum, although it is not Indigenous, it does provide senior residents who are Indigenous with the opportunity to practice their cultural and traditional practices such as smudges, sharing circles and it recognizes that culture is important to residents.
Although seniors with dementia may not be able to tell care givers and staff all their needs, creating care homes that recognize indigenous cultural practices and traditions will benefit their quality of life as a resident. According to Orrell et al. (2008), “There is little known about how people with dementia in residential homes view their own needs and whether these views agrees with the views of staff or family caregivers” (p. 942).
By: Arlene
