The aim of this research study was to explore the needs of Elders living at Elsipogtog First Nation (largest First Nation Community in New Brunswick) and understand the services and support they need to continue to live in their own homes as long as possible. The population of Elders in First Nations in Canada is estimated to skyrocket in the coming decade, so this research is timely and crucial. A unique approach to the research was developed, using a community-based research team. This team was intergenerational and comprised mostly of Mi’kmaq people from Elsipogtog. The team was prepared through a series of education sessions, conducting in-depth interviews with thirty Elders in their own language: Mi’kmaq, and developing and testing a Home for Life Assessment Tool. This approach created a culturally safe environment, with resulted in rich data, thick descriptions, and many stories which provided a clear picture of the needs of the participants. Five key findings came from this study: 1) loneliness, 2) poor housing conditions, 3) fear, safety, and security, 4) food insecurity, and 5) lack of a continuum of long-term care in the community- the need to live at home or in a supportive living Elder Care Lodge in the Community (to maintain culture, language, friends, family, familiar foods, and ceremonies). The study resulted in implementing a “Meals to Go” program to address food insecurity, and a long-term care education programming called, “Eva’s Vision” to better manage dementia and end-of life care. This research study has resulted in a strong and solid relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous people who shared a common goal and showed trust and respect for each other in the accomplishment of the goal. This study can be scaled up to other New Brunswick First Nations Communities, by using the Home for Life Assessment Tool to determine needs for Elders and then acting on results. Our larger goal is to develop a culturally appropriate continuum of long-term care program model for First Nations Communities.

1. Eimeg Tan Tleiaoltieg: Home for Life:
Supporting Elsipogtog First Nation Elders
Presentation to Government of New
Brunswick, March 30, 2022
By: Elder Donna Augustine and
Dr. Jennifer Dobbelsteyn

2. Introduction
• Donna/Jennifer
• Context
• East Coast Drums- There are Drums, Sung
By: Donna Augustine
• Introducing Elsipogtog First Nation- River of
Fire- sunrise/sunset-hope

3. Overview
Objective
Milestones
Findings
New Programs
Assessment Tool
Impact
Next steps
Questions

4. Objective
The objective of this research study was to
explore the needs of Elders living at
Elsipogtog First Nation and understand the
services and support they need to continue
to live in their own homes as long as
possible.

5. Milestones
1. Conduct the research study.
2. Develop, implement, and evaluate new
programs based on research findings.
3. Develop and test Home For Life
Assessment Tool.

6. Conduct Research
• Ask the right questions, in the
right way, to the right people, in
the right language, to get the
answers to our questions.
• Cultural safety and community-
based research team keys to
collecting rich data.
• Explore, understand, act.

7. Findings
Food Insecurity
“Meals on wheels would be nice for people
living alone who cannot cook for themselves.”
“The food bank wasn’t properly managed. It
could have helped us more because we are on
a limited income.”
“Meals on wheels- we should have it here.”

8. Poor housing conditions
“The house is pretty old and needs some repairs,
cabinets need repairs, laundry room is
downstairs, and bathroom is too small.”
“We need help with maintenance, stuff I can’t do
any more by myself. I have to rely on someone
else, even cleaning the yard.”
“To continue to live in my home I need home
maintenance, wide doors, ramp, and walk-in
shower.”
Findings

9. Loneliness
“No one visits.”
“No one cares to visit or check up on me.”
“I am very lonely. I miss my mom, my dad, and
my late spouse. Everything was ok when
they were all here.”
“The company of young people would be nice,
someone to talk to.”
Findings

10. Fear, Safety, Security
“I am scared of strange men and keep my door locked at
all times.”
“I keep the curtain closed all the time. Scared that
someone is peeking in at night.”
“Some days I get scared and I don’t want to go anywhere
alone.”
“I am worried about everything. Worried about children
and grandchildren. I pray for the teenagers because of
drugs and alcohol. I am scared of someone coming in at
night when I am alone.”
Findings

11. Lack of continuum Long-Term Care- Supportive Living Center
“Would love to see our own nursing home on the reserve or
maybe an assisted living home. It would be nice if my
grandchildren can walk and come visit with me and talk to
me in my language.”
“I would want to be in a nursing home. I would love it if we
had it here, if we had enough trained workers and create
jobs.”
“You can’t stay home when you are sick. You need nursing
care, need to get fed and medicine. There are talks about a
home here but I don’t believe them. When you are sitting
home alone, that’s not a picnic. Nobody will look after you.”
“If we had a nursing home here, we can speak our own
language and our own people can take care of me. I would
move into a home.”
“If we had a home in Elsipogtog, make a room where smudge
can be lit, do pipe ceremonies, where ceremonial people
can come and do their ceremonies.”
Findings

12. 1. Meals to Go
2. Eva’s Vision
Programs

13. Evidence-based
5 Components
5 questions on each component
3 point Likert scale
Implement and test to validate
Scalability
Eimeg Tan Tleiaoltieg: Home
For Life Assessment Tool

14. Impacts
Co-production of research
Clear evidence-based picture of Elders needs
Mental wellness programs are needed for Elders
Priority needs are food security and caregiver education
Home for Life has 3 meanings
Changing demographics and increasing numbers of Elders with complex care
needs, point to immediate need for culturally appropriate supportive living
environment in the community.

15. Train the trainer program to teach
Indigenous health care providers in New
Brunswick First Nations to use the Home
for Life Assessment Tool to determine
Elders needs and prioritize program
planning.
We can no longer ignore the long-term care
needs of Indigenous Elders. They must age
in place in their own communities. We
must build a continuum of culturally
sensitive long-term care in First Nations.
They need equitable, dignified, and
healthy aging. Elders have spoken.
What next?

16. It is one thing to identify the needs
and issues facing Indigenous Elders
and implement programs to address
these, however, it is most important to
identify the larger underlying issue
which is the lack of a culturally-
sensitive continuum of long-term
care for Indigenous peoples in
Canada.
Take Home Message

17. Questions & answers