Weaving pathways: Talking with our elders

• Published in: Rural and remote health 2022-01, Vol.22 (1), p.1-4
• Main Authors: Owen, Mary J, Nalin, Peter M, Bouverette, Charlie A, Carbone, Ginearosa, Neher, Charles, Pederson, Elisabeth, Golden, Mangan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: advance care planning; Advance directives; Advance directives (Medical care); Aged; Alaska Natives; American Indian Alaska Native; Attitudes; Community involvement; Empowerment; end of life; Health care; Health Personnel; Health services administration; healthcare directive; Humans; Indians, North American; Medical personnel; Medical students; Native American; Native North Americans; Palliative care; Planning; Rural areas; Rural health care; Sovereignty; Training of; USA
• ISSN: 1445-6354; 1445-6354
• DOI: 10.22605/RRH6845

While there exists a relative paucity of completed healthcare directives nationally in the USA, even fewer exist within minority populations. This report describes one model for bringing advance care planning and discussions to American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. In 2018, Honoring Choices of Minnesota approached the Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH), housed in the University of Minnesota Medical School, to collaborate on a project to increase healthcare directives in AIAN communities. CAIMH assembled AIAN students, faculty and community members to identify and address barriers to healthcare directive completion and discussions about end-oflife choices. The project team decided upon a two-pronged approach: culturally informed provider training paralleling culturally relevant community engagement. We aimed to empower AIAN to engage with healthcare providers on decisions impacting their care. To further support AIAN patients and their providers, a toolkit was created and will soon be available for dissemination.