Building Capacity for Elder Exercise Programming in Rural Communities

Overview:

One-third of seniors over 65 and 50% of seniors over 80 will fall at least once annually (WHO, 2007). Falls are the leading cause of seniors’ injury, deaths, and hospitalizations and can lead to loss of independence. Preventative programming is necessary to promote healthy aging in this rapidly increasing cohort (Sutherland, 2018). Indications show Indigenous fall-related injury rates are considerably higher compared to non-Indigenous older adults (Scott, 2018).

Relevance to Physiotherapy:

Physiotherapists are well-positioned to deliver falls and injury preventative opportunities using education and exercise programming for seniors (Sutherland, 2018). In addition, physiotherapy screening and assessment skills promote referral to appropriate services. In many Indigenous communities, additional advocacy is required to develop rehabilitation services, requiring innovative models of care using the strengths and capabilities of each community.

Objectives:

This online physiotherapy course will enable participants to:

1. Understand health inequities faced by Indigenous peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Call to Action 19, "to identify and close the gaps in health outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities"
2. Discuss strength-based, capacity-building models of care to deliver community-based programming
3. Describe the innovative use of technology to support a Falls Prevention and Community exercise program delivery for Elders in remote communities, addressing distinct health needs.

Audience:

This session will be of interest to clinicians, professional and community leaders, managers, educators and researchers interested in expanding current practices into rural or Indigenous communities using technology.

Speakers:

Ms Denise Taylor, Robert Baxter, Tiffany Gervasi, Kesa Keeash, Nancy Keeskitay, Carol Lyn Saleese, Eabametoong First Nation , Eabamet Lake, Canada, Victoria Order of Nurses, Thunder Bay, Canada, North Caribou Lake First Nation, Weagamow, Canada, St. Joseph's Care Group, Thunder Bay, Canada