Extension
It Starts With Us
Aging
Improve Individual and Family Development
Schuler, Porter, Stumbo, Workman
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Faithful Families
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Food Preparation and Preservation
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 a way to positively influence optimal aging and help reduce issues such as chronic disease, obesity, opioid and alcohol abuse, and mental illness.
• Identify, develop, and evaluate programs and policies that promote healthy aging in Kentucky
• Kentuckians improve health span through lifestyle choices and behaviors related to overall health and well-being
- More Kentucky households prepare for caregiving
- Kentuckians will seek health screenings and vaccines
- Older Kentuckians will prevent falls
- Kentuckians will address mental health
- Kentuckians understand the importance of lifestyle choices and behaviors throughout their lifespan on their overall health, well-being and life quality
- Kentuckians learn how to make healthy lifestyle choices
- Kentuckians learn that caregiver preparation in important
- Kentuckians learn that disease prevention and early detection is important
- Kentuckians learn about resources to enhance life quality, safety and to support aging families
Outcome: Learn about prevention and how to adopt healthy lifestyles
Indicator: Total number of individuals/families reached with information to improve healthy lifestyle choices specifically related to aging/longevity
Method: Lesson Evaluations: Know the 10 Warning Signs
Timeline: Spring 2024
Outcome: Adapt healthy lifestyles related to aging and longevity
Indicator: Of the total number of individuals/families who learned information about healthy lifestyle choices related to aging/longevity, the total number of individuals/families/caregivers who adapted their behavior
Method: 3-6 month Post Lesson evaluations: Keys to Embracing Aging, Stand up to Falling, AARP Prepare to Care, 10 Warning Signs/UAD
Timeline: September 2023, Spring 2024
Outcome: (LT) Kentucky’s overall health span increases
Indicator: Number of programs and policies identified, adapted, created and evaluated to promote healthy aging in Kentucky
Method: Overall Health Life Expectancy increases in KY
Timeline: May 2024
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Adapting Healthy Lifestyles
Content or Curriculum: Keys to Embracing Aging, Stand Up to Falling, Adolescent Brain Health, Cook Together/Eat Together, Dining with Diabetes, Fit Blue, Credit Education, Money Habitudes, Recovering Your Finances
Inputs: Partner with community resources related to programs/listed in FGs
Date: Oct 2024, March 2025
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Caregiving
Content or Curriculum: Alzheimer’s Association-10 Warning Signs and Understanding Alzheimer’s disease, Faithful Families, Estate Planning
Inputs: Partner with community resources related to programs/listed in FGs
Date: Nov 2023, March 2024
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Disease Prevention/Early Detection
Content or Curriculum: Alzheimer’s Association 10 Warning Signs/UAD, Stand Up to Falling, Dining with Diabetes, Fit Blue, Health Partners
Inputs: Partner with community resources related to programs/listed in FGs
Date: August 2023
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Aging workshops
Content or Curriculum: Aging awareness based on community needs in collaboration with local community partners (food safety/nutrition, fall prevention, caregiving, healthy lifestyles, grand parenting, finding purpose/connection, etc.)
Inputs: Community partners related to theme
Date: Spring 2024
Input examples: Area Agencies on Aging, Kentucky By the Numbers, Kentucky CES Publications and Resources, eXtension, National/State trends, KY Extension Community Assessment Statewide Report 2019, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Health Department, AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, UK Elder Care/Worklife, UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
Author: Chelsea Workman
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Osteoporosis, or low bone mass, affects about 1 in 10 people aged 50 or over in the United States (Healthy People 2030). Weak bones put people at high risk for fractures and serious health problems. It is a “costly and socioeconomic burden in all regions of the world,” according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation. There is no cure for osteoporosis, but early screening, prevention, and some treatments can prevent or reduce fracture rates.  
