Aging Well for Indigenous Peoples: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Indigenous Health
• Sociology of Aging

Background:

• Increasing life expectancy for Indigenous populations leads to more older adults with complex health needs.
• Existing Western models of healthy aging may not fully capture Indigenous perspectives.
• A deeper understanding of Indigenous-defined healthy aging is needed for effective health services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on healthy aging for Indigenous peoples.
• To identify gaps in research and assess the quality of current literature.
• To define the domains, enablers, and barriers of healthy aging from an Indigenous perspective.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search across multiple databases, book chapters, and gray literature.
• Inclusion of 32 eligible publications on Indigenous aging.
• Reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Four major themes emerged: holistic health and wellbeing, maintaining connections, resilience and positive attitude, and facing challenges.
• Healthy aging is defined holistically, emphasizing spiritual, physical, and mental wellbeing.
• Key enablers include personal responsibility and adaptability, while barriers stem from social determinants and colonization impacts.

Conclusions:

• Healthy aging for Indigenous peoples is a holistic concept deeply intertwined with cultural connections and personal resilience.
• Addressing social determinants of health and the impacts of colonization is vital for supporting Indigenous elders.
• Culturally appropriate healthcare services require a nuanced understanding of Indigenous perspectives on aging well.