Social Aspects of Aging in Indigenous Communities

This book represents a collection of chapters by authors committed to Indigenous aging around globe and older adults' contributions to their social, economic, and cultural environments. As the number of older people around the world continues to increase, it is important for families, communities, governments, and nations to have a better understanding of their older adults and their unique contributions, as well as their interests and needs, to ensure that they are able to age with dignity and respect and contribute to the overall health and well-being of their people and environments. The volume will include chapters from authors representing Indigenous populations from many parts of the world, who describe; 1) research studies on the social aspects of aging among Indigenous populations, including cultural, social, and/or economic contributions of older Indigenous adults in their communities, 2) perceptions of aging and well-being among international Indigenous populations, 3) theories about Indigenous aging, and 4) policy and intervention practices (i.e., programs and services) related to older Indigenous adults. The book's chapters also point to current and emerging areas of tension and challenges facing Indigenous older persons due to economic, social and other changes in society.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. The Cultural Determinants of Healthy Indigenous Aging Michael Yellow Bird, Gina Belton and Jamie Jensen Chapter 2. Active Aging in Mountainous Villages: An Ethnographic Study of Indigenous Older Adults in Taiwan Hai Luo Chapter 3. Locating Aging in India: Indigenous Perspectives of the Khasis and Jad Bhotiyas Juster Lyngdoh and Malathi Adudsumalli Chapter 4. Socio-cultural Beliefs and Health Seeking Behavior among Older Adults in Selected Rural and Urban Areas in Lagos State, Nigeria Fatai A. Badru and Oluwafunmilayo T. Adekola B. Aging and Social Policy: Challenges and Effects on Indigenous Older Persons Chapter 5. Lapland in Transformation: Impacts on Cultural Well-Being of the Older Population, with Special Reference to Indigenous Residents Shahnaj Begum Chapter 6. Indigenous Adults in Taiwan: The Aging Population and Related Policy Kui Kasirisir and Hai Luo Chapter 7. Development of the Indigenous Long Term Care System in Taiwan Hung-Yu Ru Chapter 8. Indigenous Spirituality, Decolonization and Restoration of Traditional Elders' Ancestral Knowledge Today: Social Work and Aging Julian Kunnie C. Effects of Social Change on Communities, Families and Older Persons Chapter 9. Aging in the Contested Floodplain: Challenges of Indigenous People of the Kafue Flats Fred Moonga Chapter 10. Survival Strategies of Older Adults in the Manipuri Community in Bangladesh Tulshi Kumar Das Chapter 11. Elderly Care in Rural Ghana: Support System and Survival Strategies of Older Persons in Bamang, Ashanti Region Kwadwo Ofori-Dua Chapter 12. Socioemotional Challenges of Indigenous Elders: A Study Based on a Rural Village of Northern Sri Lanka Subramaniam Jeevasuthan and Varatharajah Jeyaruban D. Emotional and Psychological Issues Chapter 13. Etahi Kaum? tua Momeki: Social Isolation and Loneliness among Older M?ori Living in Aotearoa, New Zealand Tess Moeke-Maxwell, Stella Black, Tessa Morgan, Janine Wiles and Merryn Gott Chapter 14. Loneliness among Indigenous People in Chile: A Neglected Issue Lorena P. Gallardo-Peralta, Esteban Sànchez-Moreno and Vicente Rodriguez-Rodriguez E. Contributions of Indigenous Older Persons Chapter 15. Honoring and Preserving Culture through Indigenous Cultural Generative Acts to Reduce Generative Mismatch and Improve the Health of All Generations Jordan Lewis Chapter 16. Continuity, Connectedness and Community: An Alaska Native Lifecycle and Explanatory Model of Caregiving Networks Maria Crouch and Rosellen Rosich Chapter 17. Reigniting the Indigenous Spirit: Indigenous Elders and Organizations Jason Albert, Susannah Walker and Gilbert Kewistep Chapter 18. Examining Inter-Generational Ties and Roles: From the Lens of Tribal Older Persons in India Jennifer Philip and Asha Banu Soletti Chapter 19. Shared Role and Responsibilities of Older Adults in Jaffna, Sri Lanka: Unrecognized Contributions to their Families and Communities Shamila Sivukumaran and Subramaniam Jeevasuthan Conclusion Tuula Heinonen (with Jordan Lewis) Index

About the Author :
Jordan P. Lewis, Aleut, Native Village of Naknek, is the Associate Director of the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team and Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus. He received his MSW from Washington University in St. Louis and his PhD in Cross Cultural Community Psychology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His expertise is in Indigenous successful aging, generativity and healthy aging, and cultural constructions of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias. He developed the concept of Indigenous cultural generativity, and the role of cultural practices and generativity in dementia caregiver health and wellbeing. Tuula Heinonen, Professor Emerita at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba, holds an MSW from McGill University, a DPhil from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, and an Advanced Diploma in Art Therapy from Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. Her scholarly interests include arts-based methods in teaching, research and writing, international social work, aging of women across different cultural contexts and social work in the health field. She has authored or co-authored numerous journal articles and books and continues to teach, supervise graduate students and write since her retirement from the University of Manitoba, Canada, in 2018.

Review :
The book focuses on the mental, physical, and social challenges older people are experiencing regarding social change in the growing community. The book is a helpful learning tool for instructors, undergraduate and graduate students, and healthcare practitioners across the globe...It is rich in understanding the uniqueness of diverse cultures on issues concerning indigenous older adults. This is a must-read text for those who take the time to digest the rich discoveries of aging in Indigenous communities.