Extension
It Starts With Us
Embracing Aging
Improving Lifestyle Decisions
FCS, Ammerman, 4H
Aging-General
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.
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
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
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)
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
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
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
