Embracing AgingPlan of Work

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Grant County CES

Title:
Embracing Aging
MAP:
Improving Lifestyle Decisions
Agents Involved:
FCS, Ammerman, 4H
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Aging-General
Situation:

People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 16.4% (2019 Census Data). By 2040 it is projected that every district will see an increase in the percent of the population that is age 65 and older (Zimmerman/KY by the Numbers). As the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, older adults influence everything from consumer behavior to health-care costs (U.S. Census). While we may be adding years to life, there is concern about life quality. This is because a person’s life expectancy, the total number of years a person is expected to live, does not always match a person’s “health span”—time spent in good health (Institute of Medicine). The life expectancy of Kentuckians, 75.1 years, fluctuates as much as 9 years between counties and ranks among the bottom five states. Heavily influenced by life-long lifestyle behaviors and choices, including quality of diet, physical activity and tobacco use, the Kentuckian health span is also below national averages. Kentucky FCS can help individuals and families establish healthy lifestyle behaviors and relationships throughout the lifespan as way to positively influence optimal aging and help reduce issues such as chronic disease, obesity, opioid and alcohol abuse, and mental illness.

Long-Term Outcomes:

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

•Decrease falls

•Decrease obesity

•Decrease number 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 Grant County’s aging 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 behaviors

•Life story and legacy

•Ageism

•Empathy

•Death, dying, loss and bereavement.

•Healthy eating and food safety

•Financial Planning

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

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Knowledge Gained

Indicator: Increased knowledge related to healthy aging, independent aging and quality aging

Method: Written or Oral Evaluation, Pre and Post Test

Timeline: Immediate


Intermediate Outcome: Behavior Change

Indicator: Apply learned skills to make changes in behavior to decrease risk of falling, improve mental health, make healthy eating choices, etc.

Method: Oral and Written Evaluations, Pre and Post Tests.

Timeline: 1-3 Years


Long-term Outcome: Changes in the aging of Grant County residents

Indicator: Change in social, economic, and environmental issues related to healthy aging, independent aging and quality aging Method: Noticeable changes in family relationships, and policy changes that promote healthy family relationships.

Timeline: 10 years


Learning Opportunities:

Audience: All Ages

Project or Activity: Care giving

Content or Curriculum: AARP Prepare to Care, Alzheimer’s Association-10 Warning Signs and Understanding Alzheimer’s disease, 

Inputs: Volunteers, agents, community partners

Date:  Fall 2021, Spring 2022


Audience: Seniors (Age 65+)

Project or Activity: Embracing Life as you Age

Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging

Inputs: Volunteers, agents, community partners

Date:  Fall 2021


Audience: Seniors (65+)

Project or Activity: Health & Financial awareness as you age

Content or Curriculum: Small steps to health & wealth Senior

Inputs: Agents, Community resources, curriculum

Date: Jan 2022



Success Stories

Estate Planning

Author: Asa Conkwright

Major Program: Aging-General

While death can be an unpleasant topic to talk about, it is still a very important one. With the global pandemic, death can be a major uncertainty. People often associate estate planning with age, but that is no longer the case. The CDC reports that over a million people have died from COVID in the US. On top of these unexpected deaths, research shows that only 37% of Americans in the US have a living will in place. Estate planning was an important issue that needed to be addressed pre-pandemic

Full Story
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