Article(s) 26 November 2013

The equinox, for many First Nations people, represents change and transformation. Spring in particular is a time of awakening, renewal as well as rebirth. It is also time to journey towards the gathering place. This special place, where meetings, exchanges, celebrations and mourning take place, is full of meaning and memories because it remembers the past, bears witness to the present and offers hope for the future.

The reality of older people with loss of autonomy illustrates the effects of the global movement towards deinstitutionalization. Several reasons are behind the movement to “keep” the elderly in their own living environment, such as costs associated with population ageing and the resulting burden on health system resources, as well as the desire of the individuals themselves to spend their remaining years at home.