Transcript Community Conversations
Community Conversations Spring 2010
Guysborough County Antigonish Town and County Strait Richmond Community Health Boards
Presentation Staying Healthy Together, April 7, 2011
Planning Process
• Gathering information through community engagement • Workshops to develop the plan • Identify Strategic Directions and Recommendations • Develop CHB Operational Plans
How did we engage the community?
• Community Conversations • Understanding Our Health Survey • Presentations from GASHA Departments and Community Agencies • Direct links to community organizations and coalitions • Reviewed other information and relevant reports
Community Conversations - Purpose
• Provide information and discussion on important health issues • Identify factors affecting health • Identify and prioritize the serious health issues • Identify some ways to address health issues • Identify effective communication strategies
Community Conversations
• 40 Focus Groups held across the district – 36 reports • 344 participants • Included geographic communities as well as specific populations: youth, young families, seniors, African Nova Scotians, Acadian/francophone and First Nation communities, the business sector, and community agencies.
Lack of Physical Activity
-
50%
(18/36)
• • • • • • •
For Youth, Seniors and Young Families
Access to motivational fitness and wellness leaders (ATC; SR) Organized recreational activity in local communities (SR; ATC; GC); Leadership by those responsible for recreational activities (ATC); Young people need more physical activity (ATC; SR); Safe walking routes for seniors (ATC); Accessible, affordable, local, and age appropriate programs and facilities, including attention to the needs of seniors (SR); Equipment, education, and some organized fitness programs Introduce equipment better and at younger age (GC).
Poor Nutrition – Obesity: 78%
(28/36)
• • • • • • Poor nutrition, unhealthy eating, poor eating habits (ATC; SR; GC); Lack of awareness of healthy food choices (GC.); Need good reliable information and knowledge of community gardens (ATC; GC); Easy access to junk food and convenience foods (ATC; SR); Use of technology encourages inactivity and bad eating habits (ATC; SR); Lack of access to healthy food choices (GC).
Need for Prevention & Wellness: 39%
(14/36)
• • • Need prevention and wellness activities in our communities (SR; ATC); Need for awareness and education about benefits of changing lifestyles (GC); Need more focus on relationship between physical activity and wellness (ATC).
Need for Supportive Environments: 39%
(14/36)
• Need support systems and motivation to facilitate understanding that change is required (GC); • Need support from friends, family, and extended family; for example, not giving kids unhealthy food. (GC.); • Need to support and motivate youth (GC.); • Need increased workplace wellness, physical activity opportunities at work, and support for employees and employers; for example a tool kit for employers (SR).
Addictions & Substance Abuse: 56%
(20/36)
• • • • • • • • • • Drugs, alcohol and gambling, both youth and adults (SR); Drugs, smoking, alcohol concerning to youth (ATC); Many adults are smoking and using drugs and alcohol (GC); Access is easy for youth. Adults help youth get drugs, alcohol and cigarettes (GC); People have multiple addictions (GC); High percentage of youth in school smoke (GC); Smoking an issue, especially with young families (ATC); Peer Pressure – youth want to fit in (GC); Starting younger in usage (GC); Lack of enforcement by police for smoking underage (GC).
Chronic Disease: 50%
(18/36)
•
In all three CHB
areas, diabetes identified as a health issue; including, African Nova Scotians and First Nations communities. • In the
Guysborough County CHB
area, cancer, and heart disease were also identified as priority health issues. • In
Antigonish County
, cancer was identified as the top priority health issue by one focus group.
Factors Affecting Chronic Conditions
• Lack of physical activity • Obesity, poor diet and lack of awareness of healthy food choices • Mental health issues, such as stress • Drugs, drinking and smoking • Lack of education and information • Access to services and transportation • Lack of supports, programs and isolation • Lack of motivation; people have difficulty making changes • Economic issues, low and fixed income; high cost of healthy food and drugs • Pollution
Mental Health – 58%
(20/36)
Factors Contributing to Mental Health
• Isolation and loneliness, particularly for elderly in rural communities; • Stress and time management for students and young families; • Relationship between mental health and having a chronic condition; • Other factors such as economic stress, relationship issues, racism, stereotypes/stigma, low literacy, lack of physical activity, and family history.
Mental Health – 58%
(21/36)
Access to Services
• Lack of self awareness about mental health status and conditions, hence the need for “mental health literacy;” • Lack of awareness about services available; • Stigma remains a barrier to accessing mental health services; • Need for more community-based programs, support and self help groups;
First Nations Communities
• Report mental health as a major health issue. Discharge planning is of particular concern. • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - mental health one area outlined for action
What We Heard from our Consultation - Access
Key challenges
: • Growing seniors population requiring supportive environments • Homecare requires improvements • Public transportation • Better access to health information and services & programs • Community-based services & programs
closer to home
• Continue to improve services to communities that have been historically excluded and marginalized • Implementation of Dr. John Ross report will require full community consultation and attention to recruitment and retention of staff.
Seniors – Supportive Environments 39%
(14/36)
• Growing Aging Population • Homecare • Elder abuse • Poverty • Cost barriers to programs & services • Lack of communication & awareness about services & programs • Adequate, affordable housing • Rural transportation • Safe places for walking & physical activity • Housing supports for snow removal, lawn mowing, etc. • Isolation: support systems for elderly and caregivers; smaller families and people moving away.
Access to Homecare
• Gap in supportive care upon leaving hospital and returning to home (ATC); • Cost of and access to adequate caregivers which would allow seniors to stay in own home (ATC); • Need support systems for elderly and their caregivers (SR; ATC); • Home care services received are very limited and need to be expanded (SR); • Housing supports for seniors and individuals living by themselves for snow removal, lawn mowing etc. (SR).
Transportation – 58%
(21/36)
Antigonish Town & County CHB
area: • Affordable and accessible transportation - over ½ of focus groups. Lack of rural transportation, especially for seniors.
Strait Richmond CHB
area, • Affordable transportation – in particular lack of access to services
Guysborough County CHB
area - one of priority health issues • Lack of transportation to appointments, clinics and education programs as well as lack of access to programs and facilities. • African Nova Scotian community of Lincolnville - lack of public transportation major issue in accessing services and programs as many residents do not have cars.
Communication and Engagement 47%
(17/36)
• More information about community programs & services in local communities (GC; SR; ATC); • Access to health information (AC; SR; GC) • More promotion on what to do to improve health (SR). • Suggestions to promote programs and services: brochures in communities; information on internet and website; CAP sites to have safe health links; pamphlets available on reliable health links; promotion of the 811 service. (GC; SR; ATC);
Supportive Environments for Young Families: 28%
(10/36)
• Child and parenting supports • Child care in order to access programs • Locally organized recreational activities • Isolation and stress - many young mom’s are on their own – ‘single moms’ while partners are working away • Need to keep young families in our communities through support for economic sustainability
Community-based Services/Programs 83%
(30/36)
• Chronic disease programs/self help groups, support programs (ATC, GC, SR) • Health education (ATC, GC, SR) • Screening programs - monthly clinics (ATC, GC, SR) • Outreach health and wellness programs (ATC, GC, SR) • Expanded hours at existing walk-in clinic; more walk-in clinics and clinical services, youth health centres (ATC, GC, SR) • Community gardens; good nutrition, meal preparation, healthy meal planning (ATC, GC, SR)
Health Inequities Physical & Built Environments: 22%
(8/36)
Strait Richmond CHB
area: • Safe drinking water; particularly well water; education about water testing; cost for well water test can be a barrier to testing.
Guysborough County CHB:
• Education and better information about well water testing and how the test works. • Lincolnville identified insufficient water supply as one of their priority health issues.
Strait Richmond and Antigonish Town & County CHB
areas • Safe areas for walking, particularly those living in rural areas.
Health Inequities – Poverty/Income 39%
(14/36)
In
all three CHB areas
, poverty identified as a factor affecting health and linked to a number of other factors as follows: • Food security and ability to buy nutritious food; • Ability to access to services due to lack of transportation, especially in rural areas; • Adequate and affordable housing; • Ability to access recreation opportunities; • Ability to participate in programs due to cost barriers; • Access to prescriptions due to costs.
What We Heard from Consultation: Youth
(7 gps)
• Most common health issues: (1) mental health (2) drugs, smoking and alcohol; and (3) obesity. • Need places for youth to gather – youth health centres & after school recreational and social activities • Affordability & transportation in rural areas critical to engaging youth • Need to improve physical activity levels • Healthy eating/obesity need to be addressed • Readiness for change to improve health and wellbeing identified factors to help increase physical activity levels • Reseau Sante – Nouvelle Ecosse youth focus groups similar issues
Strategic Directions
1. Strengthening & Supporting
Mental Health
in Our Communities 2. Implementing a Comprehensive Community-based
Chronic Disease
Strategy 3. Promoting & Supporting
Healthy Living
4. Building Bridges to
Youth Health
5. Facilitating
Access
to Services & Programs 6. Addressing
Inequities
to Improve Health 7. Promoting Communication with Communities & with GASHA 8. Enabling Health Planning & Coordination
CHB Focus Group Conclusions
• Results reinforced issues from Understanding Our Health Survey • Multiple factors contribute to health of populations (seniors, youth, those living in poverty) • Access and health inequities critical to address in rural areas • Need to consider determinants of health and health inequities in delivery of all services • Need to focus on youth as our most critical health promotion and prevention strategy.
• Recommendations: community-based and collaborative services will ensure more wholistic approach to improving health