Promoting Healthy Aging in Indigenous Communities
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editor
Interests: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health; aged care; health services research; injury prevention; population health; infectious disease surveillance
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As global populations age, promoting health and well-being among older adults has become a public health priority. For First Nations communities, healthy aging is deeply interconnected with culture, land, language, and community. However, First Nations seniors often face disproportionate health challenges due to the historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation, cumulative health inequities across the lifespan, a lack of culturally safe care, forced health migration and social isolation. There is a growing recognition that effective strategies for promoting healthy aging in First Nations contexts must be community-led, culturally grounded, person-centred and holistic to address physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
This Special Issue invites contributions that explore innovative, strengths-based approaches to supporting healthy aging in First Nations communities. We welcome interdisciplinary research, community-based participatory studies, and policy analyses that highlight First Nations knowledge systems, intergenerational connections, place-based practices, and culturally responsive health services. Papers that bridge academic rigor with practical relevance are especially encouraged, as are those led or co-authored by First Nations scholars, Elders and other seniors, and community members. Together, we aim to advance a more inclusive and equitable vision of aging that honours First Nations ways of knowing and living well across the lifespan.
Dr. Clare Bradley
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- first nations health and well-being
- healthy aging
- cultural resilience
- health equity
- culturally safe care
- community-based research
- traditional knowledge systems
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
