Technology for Aging
AGE-WELL: Aging Technologies for Indigenous Communities in Ontario (ATICON, WP1.1b)
Aging Technologies for Indigenous Communities in Ontario (ATICON, WP1.1b) is funded by AGEWELL NCE Inc. The ATICON team sought to explore the use of technology in aging in rural/remote and Indigenous populations across regions of Saskatchewan and Ontario. Understanding user needs is fundamental to development of technology that individuals will try and continue to use. The user needs of two specific Canadian populations, older adults who reside in rural or remote areas and Indigenous older adults, was explored in an attempt to increase accessibility of the technologies developed in AGE-WELL.
Drs. Kristen Jacklin and Wayne Warry led the Indigenous research component in Ontario, which explored the following questions:
-
What are the health care technology user needs of older Indigenous adults?
-
What are the training related needs to facilitate the inclusion of aging technology in health care for older Indigenous adults with cognitive degeneration living in rural and remote locations?
-
What is the relevance of technologies being developed and proposed by the National Centre of Excellence known as “AGE-WELL” to older Indigenous adults with cognitive neurodegeneration?
-
Are technology assisted health care and supportive devices cultural relevant, safe, and acceptable to Indigenous people with age-related cognitive decline, family caregivers and health care workers?
These questions were answered using two research methods:
-
Interviews with older Indigenous adults, and;
-
Focus groups with older Indigenous adults.
This research project took place with the First Nations communities of Manitoulin Island. In addition to producing scholarly publications, we presented our findings to participating communities through presentations to the health committee and Chief and Council (where applicable), annual reports, and community newsletters. This research produced the following Infographic and Guide Book:
A guide for partnering with Indigenous communities and organizations to conduct technology development research
