Supporting the wellbeing of older Aboriginal peoples in South Australia
Resthaven is supporting the wellbeing of older Aboriginal peoples in South Australia by using a ‘Framework’ based on the results of the ‘Keeping you Strong’ research project, commissioned by Resthaven, and conducted by SAHMRI’s Wardliparingga Aboriginal Research Unit.
The research, which took place in 2017, aimed to identify ways in which aged care services could support the social, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of older Aboriginal people, and better cater for them in mainstream support services.
The research included consultations with older Aboriginal people receiving aged care services in urban, regional and remote communities.
Project Officer Multicultural Services, Priscilla dePree, says, ‘The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people aged 55 years and over is increasing, and is projected to more than double from 59,400 in 2011 to up to 130,800 in 2026.’
‘Currently, the majority of aged care services for Aboriginal peoples are accessed through mainstream aged care providers. It is therefore critical that mainstream aged care services are ready, willing and able to provide culturally safe care and services.’
‘Research findings contributed to the creation of the Keeping You Strong Framework for older Aboriginal peoples in South Australia, which articulates the key role of connectedness with culture, family, community, and other Aboriginal people, in supporting wellbeing.’
‘Resthaven used this framework to identify the strategies we currently use to provide cultural safety at an individual and organisational level.’
‘Proposed actions were also recommended to increase Resthaven’s responsiveness to older Aboriginal people.’