Older Aboriginal Australians’ Health Concerns and Preferences for Healthy Ageing Programs

Pamela Ming Wettasinghe, Wendy Allan, Gail Garvey, Alison Timbery, Sue Hoskins, Madeleine Veinovic, Gail Daylight, Holly A. Mack, Cecilia Minogue, Terrence Donovan, Gerald A. Broe, Kylie Radford and Kim Delbaere
Additional contact information
Pamela Ming Wettasinghe: UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
Wendy Allan: Aboriginal Health and Ageing Program, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Gail Garvey: Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Diseases Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Alison Timbery: Aboriginal Health and Ageing Program, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Sue Hoskins: Aboriginal Health and Ageing Program, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Madeleine Veinovic: Aboriginal Health and Ageing Program, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Gail Daylight: Aboriginal Health and Ageing Program, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Holly A. Mack: Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Cecilia Minogue: Aboriginal Health and Ageing Program, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Terrence Donovan: Aboriginal Health and Ageing Program, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Gerald A. Broe: UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
Kylie Radford: UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
Kim Delbaere: UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-17

Abstract: While there is strong evidence of the need for healthy ageing programs for older Aboriginal Australians, few are available. It is important to understand older Aboriginal Australians’ perspectives on healthy ageing in order to co-design culturally-appropriate programs, including views on technology use in this context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 Aboriginal Australians aged 50 years and older from regional and urban communities to explore participants’ health concerns, preferences for healthy ageing programs, and receptiveness to technology. Qualitative data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. This study found that older Aboriginal Australians are concerned about chronic health conditions, social and emotional well-being, and difficulties accessing health services. A range of barriers and enablers to participation in current health programs were identified. From the perspective of older Aboriginal people, a successful healthy ageing program model includes physical and cognitive activities, social interaction, and health education. The program model also provides culturally safe care and transport for access as well as family, community, cultural identity, and empowerment regarding ageing well as central tenets. Technology could also be a viable approach for program delivery. These findings can be applied in the implementation and evaluation of culturally-appropriate, healthy ageing programs with older Aboriginal people.

Keywords: indigenous population; ageing; health promotion; healthcare access; dementia; chronic disease; falls; technology; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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