Problem Statement: Indigenous older adults living in rural communities have multiple morbidities that may lead to early onset dementia, yet lack the accessibility to and readiness for new technologies to monitor health data and consequently health status. Compounding this problem is the fact that Indigenous older adults living in rural communities also lack the health education needed to understand the ways nutrition, exercise and self-management of health issues can impact multiple morbidities and how multiple morbidities can be related to early dementia onset. Our research aims to promote a healthy lifestyle by providing Indigenous communities with the ability to make conscious, informed decisions about their health through technology use.

Research Purpose: Introducing new technology to monitor health data and promote healthy behaviours and healthy lifestyles and evaluating its impacts. In southern Saskatchewan, there is an opportunity to use new technology which allows Indigenous older adults to monitor their own diabetes and age related health information, including blood glucose, blood pressure, weight, and other data. This data can then be shared with their health practitioner and the research team so it can be tracked and graphed and reported on.

Anticipated Impact: It is anticipated the health data of the participants will change substantially as they learn more about healthy lifestyles and risk factors of dementia. This project will be welcomed in the community because our community partner, the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC) operates the All Nations Healing Hospital where participants can access services locally. We anticipate that our research will impact and slow down the early onset of dementia in Indigenous communities. The community will be more involved in their own health outcomes and will recognize the benefits of local Indigenous research.