Towards a Healthier Community at Shoal Lake: Assessing Community Health Needs at Iskatewizaagegan

1
Towards a Healthier Community at Shoal
LakeAssessing Community Health Needsat
Iskatewizaagegan 39 Independent First Nation
Shirley Thompson thompso4_at_ms.umanitoba.ca,
Christa Foley christa_foley_at_hotmail.com, Natural
Resources Institute, University of Manitoba
Shauna Mandamin shauna_mandamin_at_hotmail.com,
Laverna Greene,Iskatewizaagegan 39 Independent
First Nation Health Center Staff
What the community identified as needed
(continued) Housing 1. Repairs 47 responded
that their home needs repairs to make it safe to
live in. See Graph 1. More than half the
respondents (57) stated that assistance with
home management needs to be increased. Health
Programming 1. Education Increased
programming is needed in the following areas
teaching disease prevention (68), diabetes
(61), and foot care (52). See Graph 2. 2.
Health Programming Programs identified as being
important included meal program (69)
translation and medical escort for doctors
appointment (39) wellness activities for
elderly and disabled (34) support groups for
persons with diabetes and other conditions
(28) transportation to medical appointment
(28) palliative care (27) health promotion
and fitness programs (25) rehabilitation and
occupational therapy (19) mental health
services (13) therapeutic bath (11) and,
health workshops (11).
Background and Objectives As a First Nation we
can become a stronger and healthier community by
working together. To assess community health
needs a survey was designed to collect community
opinions on 1) health status 2) home care 3)
housing and 4) health programming. By
determining the needs of the community we can
better meet those needs and improve services.
Graph 1 My Home Needs Repairs for Health Safety
Graph 2 Diabetes Education
40
40
30
30
Percent
Percent
20
20
Method A survey with 33 questions was
distributed to all households in Iskatewizaagegan
39 Independent First Nation and collected by
Sarah L. Mandamin in 2002. Analysis of results
was done with Statistical Products and Service
Solutions version 11.5. Survey Findings More
than one-fifth of all band members of
Iskatewizaagegan Independent First Nation (IIFN)
or 66 members completed a survey. This response
rate was approximately one per family on the
reserve, with many band members being children.
The response rate of males (45.5) to females
(54.5) was almost equal. There was a good mix of
different age groups among those surveyed with
respondents falling mostly in the young adult
category of age 26-39 years (42) or middle-age
category of age 40-54 years (26). The three
other age groups (under 25, 55-64, 65 or older)
each made-up 11 of total respondents. Health
Status Regarding the health status of adult band
members of Iskatewizaagegan Independent First
Nation (IIFN) 76 considered themselves healthy.
Many people engage in healthy lifestyle
behaviors 53 exercise regularly, 63 eat
healthy and 48 contact a traditional healer or
native herbalist when needed. 20 reported having
a disability or chronic condition. Home Care
Statistics More than one-ninth (12) of
community members used home care services in the
past two years. Also, many other respondents had
family members who used home care services and
10 of respondents took care of a disabled or
elderly person. Almost one-third (29) of
respondents stated that home care services
allowed them to stay living in their home more
independently.
10
10
0
0
does not apply
disagree
strongly agree
Very much needed
What we have is enough
strongly disagree
agree
Not sure
Needs to be increase
Question My home needs repairs to make it safe
to live there?
Graph 3 Adequacy of In Home Nursing Care
Graph 4 Access to Traditional Healer or Herbalist
40
50
40
30
Percent Response
30
Percent
20
Conclusions Community residents are healthy, for
the most part. Currently a number of services are
available to community members including home
care and meal preparation. These services benefit
many people but could benefit more people if
improvements were made, particularly in the area
of meal preparation, diabetes and disease
prevention education, housing management/repair
and home care needs assessment. By identifying
health concerns and working to resolve these
issues our community will become an even stronger
and healthier place to live. For home care and
health care services program please
contact Laverna Greene, Community Health
Director [phone] Robert C. Greene, Home
Care Case Manager [phone] Stephan
Mandamin, Housing [phone]
20
10
10
0
0
Very much needed
Have enough
does not apply
disagree
strongly agree
Not sure
Needs to be increased
strongly disagree
agree
Response to I contact a traditional healer or
native herbalist when I need one.
What the Community identified as needed Home
Care 1. Meal preparation Almost
three-quarters of respondents (74) answered
that increased assistance is needed for meal
preparation for those that cannot cook for
themselves. 2. Home Care Needs Assessment
65 stated that home care needs assessments
should be improved. 3. Job Training for
Health Care Staff 58 report that health care
staff do not have up-to-date job training.
4. Response Time Improvement 43 answered that
the response time for health requests need to
be improved. 5. Greater Availability 26
responded that they were caused hardships
because home care services were not available to
them upon release from the hospital. 10
reported having been discharged from the
hospital before nursing could be arranged at
home. 8 responded that they did not get
a sufficient amount of care required to remain
at home. 52 reported need for in-home respite
services to give caregivers a break. See graph 3.
Photo Credits Shauna Mandamin- Tyson Mandamin
photo, Vicki Pinesse photo. Kelly Blackhorse-
Harvey Mandamin photo. Phyllis Jack- Sunshine and
Jessie photo. Christine Chan- Ella-don with
Skyler photo, Melanie with Shaydan photo.