Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and CommunitiesPlan of Work

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Grayson County CES

Title:
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Communities
MAP:
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Agents Involved:
Taul, N.
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes Program (Curriculum)
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Get Moving Kentucky (Physical Activity Based Programs)
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Situation:

As identified by the FCS and County Extension Councils, addressing healthy and energy efficient living are an important issue in Grayson County that can be addressed through Extension programming. With 13.2% of the adult population diagnosed with Diabetes and 30.9% obese, both diabetes and nutrition education are essential to clientele. An even higher percentage of adults are regular smokers in Grayson Count (33.2%) which puts them at a much higher risk for cardiovascular disease. These issues can be addressed through education and awareness campaigns by partnering with local businesses and community leaders.


Also identified by councils, was the need for education and awareness on the topic of energy and environmental efficiency, conservation, long with sustainable living. All of the mentioned issues can be addressed by providing educational opportunities and awareness campaigns for clientele in the county.

Long-Term Outcomes:

A decrease in the number of obese & overweight, physically inactive, and individuals with chronic diseases. Create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Improve ability to set goals for planning and eating meals as a family and/or improve ability to set goals and sole problems related to diabetes management. Implement one or more practices that will improve energy and environmental conservation, efficiency, and/or sustainable living.

Initial Outcomes:

Increase awareness and understanding of benefits related to family meals, of diabetes and the problems associated with not managing the disease, and/or issues related to energy and environmental conservation, efficiency, or sustainable living.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase awareness and understanding of benefits related to family meals, of diabetes and the problems associated with not managing the disease, and/or issues related to energy and environmental conservation, efficiency, or sustainable living.

Indicator: Number of participants reporting increased KOSA associated with the above

Method: pre/post surveys and evaluations

Timeline: pre/post program implementation


Intermediate Outcome: Improve ability to set goals for planning and eating meals as a family and/or improve ability to set goals and sole problems related to diabetes management. Implement one or more practices that will improve energy and environmental conservation, efficiency, and/or sustainable living.

Indicator: Number of participants reporting improvement and implementation in one or more of the above outcomes.

Method: Follow up surveys and evaluations, observations and conversations

Timeline: 3 months following program


Long-term Outcome: A decrease in the number of obese & overweight, physically inactive, and individuals with chronic diseases. Create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle

Indicator: Number of participants reporting lifestyle changes in regards to the above outcomes.

Method: Follow up surveys and evaluations, observations and conversations.

Timeline: 6 months following program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: General public, individuals diagnosed with diabetes, family and caretakers of individuals with diabetes

Project or Activity: Educational support group sessions

Content or Curriculum: Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes Curriculum

Inputs: UK publications, partnerships, facilities, materials, agents, local healthcare professionals.

Date: year round on a monthly basis


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Educational sessions and awareness campaign

Content or Curriculum: Family Meal Time Curriculum and other approved research based resources

Inputs: UK FCS Content Specialist, paid Extension Staff, social media outlets, agents, local non-profit organizations, community alliance, UK publications

Date: April - June & July - September


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Educational seminars and awareness campaign

Content or Curriculum: Various building healthy homes and communities resources

Inputs: Local utilities/electric company, agents, specialists, local businesses and community leaders, UK publications, social media outlets, UK FCS Content Specialists

Date: Fall


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Get Moving Wellness Program

Content or Curriculum: Get Moving KY curriculum, information releases, and other various resources

Inputs: UK publications, partnerships, facilities, materials, agent, local health and wellness professionals and agencies. 

Date: Spring and Fall/Winter



Success Stories

Brain Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Embracing Life as We Age (general)

One in three senior adults dies each year due to Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016).Alzheimer’s is an incurable brain disease that causes a slow, progressive decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016). Learning more about the disease and its warning signs is important because timely detection may offer benefits for people living with dementia and their families. For example, some memory loss or d

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Dining with Diabetes

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)

Diabetes costs Kentucky 3.85 billion annually. According to 2016 Kentucky data, more than 13.1% of Kentucky adults have been diagnosed with diabetes – an increase of 50% since 2000. If these trends continue, 1 in 3 Kentuckians will develop diabetes sometime in their life. Those with diabetes lose an average of 10-15 years of potential life and can develop serious complications such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, and non-traumatic lower extremity amputations.Specifica

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10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Know the 10 Signs

Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States currently develops Alzheimer’s disease, an incurable brain disease that causes a slow, progressive decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, today, an estimated 5.8 million Americans of all ages live with the disease; 2/3 of whom are women (73,000 in KY; 86,00 by 2025). By 2050, the number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million and is expected to cost the nation as much as $1.1 trillio

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AARP Prepare to Care

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Prepare to Care

Based on demographic trends, Kentucky needs to plan for a great increase in caregiving. According to the 2018 Census Data population estimates, 16.4% of Kentucky’s population is 65+ years old and by 2040 it is predicted that 21.9% of the Commonwealth’s population will be 65 years old or older (Zimmerman, 2019). Today, over half of Kentucky’s older adults report living with a disability. In addition, there is a growing need for dementia caregiving in Kentucky and throughout the

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Wallace Avenue Community Garden Increasing Access to Nutritious Foods

Author: Whitney Carman

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Wallace Avenue Community Garden Increasing Access to Nutritious Foods

In the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment, nutrition and obesity were two of the top health challenges facing Grayson County residents. The low rankings nationally and statewide in diabetes, adult obesity and limited access to healthy food, are all problems that needed attention.  Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center (TLRMC) created a Population Health Committee to respond to these needs, and in doing so, created the idea of a community garden for families that do not have a means

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