In my previous role as a nurse supervisor for a First Nations home and community care program, I saw that there were major challenges in finding affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate health care provider training that meets the needs and realities of the First Nations people. Receiving an education within the community was not often an option for health care providers, and leaving the community for education and training had several negative impacts on the health care provider and the community—it affected the continuity of care for their clients, increased the burden on the family and community, and was a financial drain on already exhausted community budgets. These problems were especially common in remote communities.
It would take community home care staff several years to obtain their Personal Support Worker certificates. They would leave their families, communities, and positions for weeks at a time. If there were a crisis or a death in a community they would return home, losing out on training and delaying their education. In addition, many times nurses come to communities without a proper understanding of the importance of culture and protocol and of building relationships within the community.
Saint Elizabeth offers a First Nations Elder Care Course, one of several online professional development programs available at no cost to community-based health care providers across Canada. The course provides evidence-based, culturally sensitive education about First Nations history and culture, as well as clinical information on health topics related to elder care such as falls, medication, nutrition, depression, Alzheimer disease, elder abuse, and caring for yourself as a health care provider.
We were cautious not to develop a pan-Aboriginal approach. A key message spread throughout the course is the need to understand that every community is unique. Health care providers need to build relationships with the communities to learn more about community-specific cultural practices and protocols. They need to seek guidance from a community champion to learn about the culture, traditions, and practices within a community.
Our program uses a unique model involving First Nations health care providers, elders, and specialists in the development and review phases of our courses. Our goal was to ensure that we had comprehensive information to meet community needs and to develop relationships of mutual trust and respect.
The course was released in January 2013 and has received an enthusiastic response. Community representatives appreciate that the course provides their staff with understanding and knowledge to provide a safe environment along with respect and protocols in caring for the elders. The goal in many communities is to keep elders in their homes for as long as possible instead of moving them to long-term care facilities.
The online training means that health care providers don’t have to leave their communities to develop the knowledge and skills they need to care for elders. Health care providers are sometimes intimidated by online training, but most of them know how to use Facebook and once they realize it’s just as easy, they are very enthusiastic.
This sounds exactly what is needed in First Nation Communities. I am so happy to have heard about this and will follow up. Shirley Johnson, PSW
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