Health Care and Aboriginal Seniors in Urban Canada: Helping a Neglected Class

Canadian researchers and policymakers have paid limited attention to the health care needs of Aboriginal seniors. This lack of attention is problematic, as the situation of Aboriginal seniors – including both status and non-status First Nations, Métis and Inuit – is particularly bleak. Using Winnipe...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Loleen Berdahl, Bonita Beulah Beatty
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: University of Western Ontario 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/a717e5051c3e4539a30868d546e8e671
Description
Summary:Canadian researchers and policymakers have paid limited attention to the health care needs of Aboriginal seniors. This lack of attention is problematic, as the situation of Aboriginal seniors – including both status and non-status First Nations, Métis and Inuit – is particularly bleak. Using Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon as examples, this paper analyses the health care challenges facing Aboriginal seniors in urban Canada. We ask, what policy approaches are needed to improve the health and wellbeing of urban Aboriginal seniors so that they can have good quality living reflective of their needs and culture? We suggest that, in thinking throughpresent and future health services for urban Aboriginal seniors, policymakers should consider four key factors: socioeconomic conditions; underutilization of urban health services; jurisdiction; and elder abuse.