This article describes the process and findings from a Canadian community-based effort to increase caregivers’ access to dementia related supports through the creation and distribution of a respite care toolkit. The goal of the toolkit is to build capacity for community-based respite care by creating an opportunity for education, training, and increasing awareness in Indigenous communities.
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Caregivers are integral to the quality of life for older adults living with dementia who are aging in place.
The lack of training and culturally appropriate resources available for caregivers of Indigenous Peoples living with dementia contributes to the accessibility gap for community-based respite care.
Although current modules exist for respite care workers, there are limited culturally safe training modules designed for Indigenous caregivers and family members endeavoring to increase Traditional Knowledges around dementia. Developing an Indigenous, community-based caregiver toolkit for dementia creates culturally safe, accessible resources for community respite care.
Guided by Indigenous Research Methodologies and community-based research, Morning Star Lodge, in partnership with File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council at the request of a Community Research Advisory Committee, aims to promote Indigenous community-based models of support and to develop a toolkit for caregivers of people living with dementia and their families. The toolkit includes information such as: understanding dementia, strategies for care, links to online resources for caregivers, and resources specific to Indigenous cultures.
The goal is to increase caregivers’ access to dementia related supports through the distribution of the toolkit and to build capacity for the provision of community-based respite care by creating an opportunity for education, training, and increasing awareness in Indigenous communities. Creating a caregiver toolkit will also help to relieve caregiver stress by providing education to family members about community-based respite care and services available.
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Bourassa, C., Hagel, M., Langan, J., Legare, M., Keewatin, M., Peigan, B., McKay, R., Hotomani, M., & Spencer, O. (2021). Community-Based Respite Care: Training Caregivers and Family to Provide in-home Care for Indigenous Older Adults Living with Dementia. Turtle Island Journal of Indigenous Health, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.33137/tijih.v1i2.36035
