Campbell County CES

Title:

Embracing Life as We Age

MAP:

FCS - Embracing Life as We Age

Agents Involved:

Rex, Thompson

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Embracing Life as We Age (general)

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Keys to Embracing Aging

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions

Situation:

People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 13.3%, a number that is expected to double in the next 40 years due to the aging Baby Boomers (post WWII babies born between 1946-1964). Approximately 25% of Kentucky’s population includes Boomers, who, in 2011, started turning 65. Meanwhile, babies born in Kentucky in 2011 are projected to live to be 75 years old (3 years younger than the national average). Whether it is the graying of America or extended life expectancies, aging is a lifespan process. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the changes that accompany aging, in regard to health, independence and life quality throughout all stages of life. The goal of the Embracing Life As We Age Initiative is to develop programs and work with other FCS initiatives to help individuals, families and communities manage the challenges and discover the positive aspects of life transitions and growing older.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Change in social, economic, and environmental issues related to healthy aging, independent aging and quality aging:

*Decrease falls

*Decrease obesity

*Decrease # of individuals with chronic disease

*Increase physical activity

*Increase estimated health savings

*Increase caregiving knowledge and quality relationships

*Improve financial education

*Improve healthy homes and communities

*Improve quality of life for Kentucky’s aging families

*Build strong KY families

Intermediate Outcomes:

Change in behavior related to healthy aging, independent aging and quality aging:

*Change behavior to decrease risk of falling

*Increase communication and enhance relationships and social support

*Enhance brain activity

*Improve mental health

*Create a legacy

*Increase skills to interact/work with older adults

*Make healthy eating choices and follow safe food handling practices

*Work as a family unit to acknowledge and embrace aging issues

Initial Outcomes:

Change in awareness, knowledge, and aspirations related to healthy aging, independent aging, and quality aging:

*Risk of falling

*Healthy lifespan

*Life story and legacy

*Ageism

*Empathy

*Death, dying, loss and bereavement

*Healthy eating and food safety

*Age-related family issues (e.g. dementia, power of attorney, living wills, failing health, end-of-life)

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Follow-up evaluations will be mailed to past participants.
Indicator: Documentation or testimonies will be given by the participants that will prove that behavior has changed as a result of the program.
Method: One, two, three, four, (etc.) evaluations will be given to discover behavior change.
Timeline: One, two, three, four, (etc.) year evaluations will be administered. Statistics will be studied and submitted to the Campbell County Extension by professional collaborators/agencies/services that will prove social, economic or environmental change has taken place.

Intermediate Outcome: Follow-up evaluations will be sent to participants.
Indicator: A follow-up written evaluation will be mailed to each participant to determine if he/she is practicing what was learned or demonstrated at the program. Participants will answer the evaluation based on what was learned or demonstrated at the program.
Method: A three, four, or six month follow-up evaluation will be mailed out. Teachers and parents will also be asked questions to determine if children are practicing what they learned in the program.
Timeline: A three, four, or six month evaluation will be mailed to participants.

Initial Outcome: End of Program evaluations will be utilized.
Indicator: Written evaluations will be completed by each participant/student at the end of each program. Hands-on evaluations will also be used to evaluate the progress of the participants/students. Participants will answer questions about the program/subject matter that will show that he/she has learned from the class/program.
Method: Written evaluations and hands-on evaluations will be utilized.
Timeline: End of classes/programs.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults 65 years old and above
Project or Activity: Matter of Balance
Content or Curriculum: Matter of Balance Curriculum, Plate It Up
Inputs: Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service, Physical Therapist
Date: meets weekly for 8 week series, Summer 2019

Audience: Seniors at the Campbell County Senior Center
Project or Activity: Embracing Life as We Age with the Campbell County Diabetes Support Group

Content or Curriculum: Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions, Keys to Embracing Life as We Age

Inputs: UK Cooperative Extension FCS Agent, Northern Kentucky Health Department and Campbell County Senior Center

Date: Second Thursday of each month throughout the year 

Audience: Hosea House Soup Kitchen 

Project or Activity: Keys to Embracing Life as We Age with Hosea House
 Content or Curriculum: Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions, Keys to Embracing Life as We Age

Inputs: UK Cooperative Extension Service FCS Agents, Hosea House

Date: The last Monday of each month throughout the year.  The last Wednesday of each month throughout the year 

Audience: General public & Homemakers
Project or Activity: Mystery Dinner Theater and Living Simply
 Content or Curriculum: UK publications  

Inputs: Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service, NKY FCS agents

Date: September 10, 2019 and January 15, 2020

Success Stories