Eimeg Tan Tleiaoltieg (We are home where we belong) – Home for Life Research Study

The Eimeg Tan Tleiaoltieg (We are home where we belong) – Home for Life Research Study is an Indigenous-led initiative designed to address the needs of Elders in their communities. The project began with a comprehensive research study that identified key issues such as food insecurity, poor home maintenance, loneliness, fear/safety, the need for a continuum of long-term care and an assisted-living facility.

Based on these findings, the project developed and implemented new programs, Including the Meals to Go program, Eva’s Vision (which includes a literature review on Indigenous perspectives on dementia care and end-of life care and support for family caregivers. The Home For life Assessment Tool was developed to facilitate scale-up of our work. Additionally, planning has begun to build an assisted living facility in the community.

An Indigenous research team was provided education about research methodology and methods, data management,  in-depth interviewing and data encryption, and knowledge translation.Interviews with Indigenous Elders was conducted in Mi’kmaq by Indigenous team members. This was done to maintain cultural safety for Elder participants. The success of this project has led to an opportunity to scale-up the Home for Life Assessment Tool in Atlantic Canada and subsequently across Canada potentially in a National Pilot Project.

Home for Life Assessment Tool

The Home for Life Assessment Tool is a community-based, Indigenous-led initiative developed from research conducted at Elsipogtog. It ensures anonymity to protect Elders’ privacy. There are 25 statements to respond to, and a section for additional comments. It is completed in the Elder’s First language and takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Using the Nation-to-Nation, Elder-to Elder scale-up strategy, there is a comfort level for Elders throughout the process.

Scale-up Home for Life Assessment Tool 

The Home for Life Assessment Tool is a healthcare innovation. It is an evidence-based tool developed and validated through research conducted at Elsipogtog First Nation. Scale-up of a healthcare innovation is defined as, “Deliberate efforts to increase the impact of health service innovations successfully tested in pilot or experimental projects so as to benefit more people and to foster policy and programme development on a lasting basis (WHO/Expandnet, 2009, p. 1).” The process involves community recruitment, Elder recruitment, conducting assessments with Elder-to-Elder approach, and providing a report to the community leadership. We discuss using the assessment results for planning change and making improvements.

These schedule of scale-up is available under schedule tab.

Nation-to-Nation, Elder-to- Elder Approach

The Nation-to-Nation, Elder-to-Elder approach ensures cultural safety for the communities and Elders who are participating in the assessment process. Nation-to-Nation means Elsipogtog to another First Nation or Inuit Community. This communication occurs through our Project Coordinator with the leadership (Chief, Band Manger, and Health Director) of communities we are approaching to invite them to participate. Elder-to-Elder refers to the one-on-one conversation between Elders on our team and Elders in the participating communities. This communication takes place in the first language of participating Elders. It is an interaction and visiting with each other as well as offering assistance to understand the assessment questions if needed. This approach has been well-received by Elders and creates a comfortable atmosphere for them.