towards a healthier community at shoal lake: assessing community health needs at iskatewizaagegan...
TRANSCRIPT
Towards a Healthier Community at Shoal Lake:Assessing Community Health Needs
at Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation
Shirley Thompson [email protected], & Christa Foley [email protected], Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba Shauna Mandamin [email protected], Laverna Greene,Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation Health Center Staff
Background and Objectives:Background and Objectives:As a First Nation we can become a stronger and healthier community by working together. To assess community health needs a survey was designed to collect community opinions on: 1) health status; 2) home care; 3) housing; and 4) health programming. By determining the needs of the community we can better meet those needs and improve services.
Method:Method:A survey with 33 questions was distributed to all households in Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation and collected by Sarah L. Mandamin in 2002. Analysis of results was done with Statistical Products and Service Solutions version 11.5.
Survey Findings:Survey Findings:More than one-fifth of all band members of Iskatewizaagegan Independent First Nation (IIFN) or 66 members completed a survey. This response rate was approximately one per family on the reserve, with many band members being children. The response rate of males (45.5%) to females (54.5%) was almost equal. There was a good mix of different age groups among those surveyed with respondents falling mostly in the young adult category of age 26-39 years (42%) or middle-age category of age 40-54 years (26%). The three other age groups (under 25, 55-64, 65 or older) each made-up 11% of total respondents.
Health Status:Health Status:Regarding the health status of adult band members of Iskatewizaagegan Independent First Nation (IIFN) 76% considered themselves healthy. Many people engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors: 53% exercise regularly, 63% eat healthy and 48% contact a traditional healer or native herbalist when needed. 20% reported having a disability or chronic condition.
Home Care Statistics:Home Care Statistics:More than one-ninth (12%) of community members used home care services in the past two years. Also, many other respondents had family members who used home care services and 10% of respondents took care of a disabled or elderly person. Almost one-third (29%) of respondents stated that home care services allowed them to stay living in their home more independently.
Conclusions:Conclusions:Community residents are healthy, for the most part. Currently a number of services are available to community members including home care and meal preparation. These services benefit many people but could benefit more people if improvements were made, particularly in the area of meal preparation, diabetes and disease prevention education, housing management/repair and home care needs assessment. By identifying health concerns and working to resolve these issues our community will become an even stronger and healthier place to live.
For home care and health care services & program please contact:
Laverna Greene, Community Health Director(807) 733-3318
Robert C. Greene, Home Care Case Manager(807) 733-3318
Stephan Mandamin, Housing(807) 733-2560
Graph 3: Adequacy of In Home Nursing Care
Not sure
Very much needed
Needs to be increased
Have enough
Per
cen
t R
espo
nse
40
30
20
10
0
Graph 4: Access to Traditional Healer or Herbalist
Response to “I contact a traditional healer or native herbalist when I need one.”
does not apply
strongly disagree
disagree
agree
strongly agree
Per
cen
t
50
40
30
20
10
0
Graph 1: My Home Needs Repairs for Health & Safety
Question: “My home needs repairs to make it safe to live there?”
does not apply
strongly disagree
disagree
agree
strongly agree
Pe
rce
nt
40
30
20
10
0
Graph 2: Diabetes Education
Not sure
Very much needed
Needs to be increase
What we have is enough
Pe
rce
nt
40
30
20
10
0
What the community identified as needed (continued):What the community identified as needed (continued): HousingHousing
1. Repairs: 47% responded that their home needs repairs to make it
safe to live in. See Graph 1. More than half the respondents (57%) stated that assistance with home management needs to be increased.
Health ProgrammingHealth Programming
1. Education: Increased programming is needed in the following
areas: teaching disease prevention (68%), diabetes (61%), andfoot care (52%). See Graph 2.
2. Health Programming: Programs identified as being important
included: meal program (69%); translation and medical escort for doctors appointment (39%); wellness activities for elderly
and disabled (34%); support groups for persons with diabetes and
other conditions (28%); transportation to medical appointment (28%); palliative care (27%); health promotion and fitness programs (25%); rehabilitation and occupational therapy (19%); mental health services (13%); therapeutic bath (11%); and, health workshops (11%).
Photo Credits:Photo Credits:Shauna Mandamin- Tyson Mandamin photo, Vicki Pinesse photo.Kelly Blackhorse- Harvey Mandamin photo.Phyllis Jack- Sunshine and Jessie photo.Christine Chan- Ella-don with Skyler photo, Melanie with Shaydan photo.
What the Community identified as needed:What the Community identified as needed: Home CareHome Care
1. Meal preparation: Almost three-quarters of respondents (74%) answered
that increased assistance is needed for meal preparation for those that cannot cook for themselves.
2. Home Care Needs Assessment: 65% stated that home care needs
assessments should be improved.
3. Job Training for Health Care Staff: 58% report that health care staff do
not have up-to-date job training.
4. Response Time Improvement: 43% answered that the response time for
health requests need to be improved.
5. Greater Availability: 26% responded that they were caused hardships
because home care services were not available to them upon release from the hospital. 10% reported having been discharged from the hospital before
nursing could be arranged at home. 8% responded that they did not get asufficient amount of care required to remain at home. 52% reported need forin-home respite services to give caregivers a break. See graph 3.