Tech Salon

Much has been made of the impending impact of our rapidly ageing population on the full spectrum of health services. While the population pyramid for northern Ontario’s First Nations shows a third world configuration largely skewed to the younger age cohorts, the explosive growth rate in the ageing population is approximately double that of the mainstream.

This population is found in 28 isolated First Nation communities sparsely spread over 385,000 sq. km. Few supports familiar to the mainstream population (eg. home support, home care, supportive housing, long term care, skilled nursing facilities, etc.) exist in these communities. Access is a major issue to services available in more southern communities because of geographic, systemic, financial and cultural barriers. Even when those services are accessed, they often do not meet even the most basic standards of cultural or linguistic appropriateness.

Most of this ageing population lives in a dramatically different cultural and linguistic context than the service planners and providers.

Between 80 and 90% of Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Center’s institutional long term care (skilled nursing facility) capacity is occupied by First Nations people from these remote, isolated northern communities. Family visits are rare. Socialization and contact with loved ones is almost impossible. Preventing the effects of institutionalization is very difficult in these circumstances. Several measures have been put in place to redress this situation and add a measure of civility in response to the strong family and communities ties traditionally significant to the quality of life of these long term care residents.

A number of these measures including the preparation and use of traditional foods, Weecheewaywin support, board-leader-elders’ council visits, types of daytrips, community activities, music, planned proximity to hostel, ceremonial and spiritual supports, etc. will be discussed. One of the more innovative is the use of Videovisitation[1]. A short live demonstration of an actual resident-family/community videoconferenced visit will be included.

Related regulatory compliance issues will be discussed.

While this initiative is still in its early stages, key lessons have been learned and will be shared with participants. The outcomes to date are clearly beneficial, and our approaches may prove of value to others.

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[1] Videovisitation is the use of videoconferencing technology to provide regular contact between remote, inaccessible family and community members and residents of a distant long term care facility.

Presentation Information:

Program: Tech Salon
Primary Category: Culturally Competent Care
Subtopics: videovisitation, Clinical interactions

Region Addressed by Presentation: North America
Organization: Health Care System
Population/Demographic: ethnic group
Keywords: videovisitation, long term care, elder care, continuum of elder care, ageing in place

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Heather Fukushima, RN , Nursing, Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre, Sioux Lookout

Manager of Non-Acute Services
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre
Nursing
75 Fifth Ave
Sioux Lookout P8T 1K9

Phone: 807-737-1337
Email Address: hfukushima@slmhc.on.ca

Biographical Sketch: Heather Fukushima is a Registered Nurse with 14 years of nursing experience. working on a general nursing floor that provided care to emergency, obstetrical, med-surg and LTC patients in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada. This experience coupled with a passion for LTC and end of life care prompted Heather’s decision to assume the role of director of care for the extended care unit of the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre. The predominant populations serviced by the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre are people who come from remote First Nation communities requiring an understanding of complex social and health related challenges. Some of the highlights of Heather’s career include the Partnership for the development and implementation of a Tele-video visitation program, involvement with a regional committee furthering care continuity for northern elders through an Elder Care Continuum and the facilitation of Palliative care education for front line workers.


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Helen Cromarty, RN, HBScN , Senior Administration, Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Center, Sioux Lookout, ON, Canada

Special Advisor on First Nations Health
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Center
Senior Administration
Box 909
69 Front Street
Sioux Lookout ON, Canada P8T 1B4

Phone: 807-737-3030
Fax: 807-737-5127
Email Address: hcromarty@slmhc.on.ca

Biographical Sketch: Helen Cromarty is a highly experienced nurse with subsequent success as a senior health policy analyst. She has made major contributions to improving the health services available to Aboriginal people living across Ontario. Helen was involved in developing the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy for Ontario, the Native Nurses Entry Program for Lakehead University, and many other program initiatives. She sits as a Board member of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Helen is an advisor to the Canadian Council for Health Services Accreditation, Canada's counterpart to JCAHO. As a member of the Senior Administrative team at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre, Helen works with 28 First Nations communities scattered over 385,000 sq. km. She is working to shift mainstream medicine by helping with the establishment of Ontario's designated "center of excellence" for First Nations health. Helen is from Sachigo Lake First Nation, an isolated Oji-Cree speaking community of 475 people located 90 minutes by air from the nearest road-accessible community.


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See more of: Tech Salon