Extension
It Starts With Us
2024 2025 Stages throughout the Lifespan
2024 Individual and Family Development
Dan Allen, Joan Bowling, Diane Kelley, Lori Clark, Denise Donahue, Brandon George, Anna Meyers
Family and Consumer Science
Aging-General
Family Development General
Substance Use Recovery - FCS
People are living longer. Kenton County’s current population of seniors (65+) is 14.4% (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. Kenton County life expectancy is 79.4 % for women/74.6 for men. 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. Kenton County Agents 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 brought on by life stressors such as family instability, chronic disease, obesity, opioid and alcohol abuse.
- Identify, develop, and evaluate programs and policies that promote healthy aging in Kentucky
- Improve relatives raising children ability to advocate for the rights of children.
- Kentuckians improve health span through lifestyle choices and behaviors related to overall health and well-being
- The prevention and/or reduction of substance use and its related consequences
- Embrace people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds
- Kentuckians of all ages adapt healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, physical activity, no smoking/binge drinking.
- More Kentucky households prepare for caregiving
- Kentuckians will seek health screenings and vaccines
- Kenton County residents will prevent falls by adapting living spaces and recognizing hazards
- Increase the number of Relative Caregivers who report reduced stress
- Practice skills to strengthen and sustain relationships
- Kentuckians understand the importance of lifestyle choices and behaviors throughout their lifespan on their overall health, well-being and life quality
- Kentuckians learn that caregiver preparation in important
- Kentuckians learn about resources to enhance life quality, safety and to support aging families
- Identify key points of adolescent development
- Establish realistic expectations for child/teen behavior, and explore changing relationships within families
- Healthy lifespan behaviors
Outcome: (ST) Learn about prevention and how to adapt healthy lifestyles
Indicator: Total number of individuals/families reached with information to improve healthy lifestyle choices specifically related to aging/longevity
Method: Lesson Evaluations: Keys to Embracing Aging; Stand up to Falling; Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Beyond (Home Accessibility); AARP Prepare to Care; 10 Warning Signs/UAD
Timeline: Ongoing
Outcome: (I) 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; Bedrooms, Bathrooms and Beyond (Home Accessibility); AARP Prepare to Care; 10 Warning Signs/UAD
Timeline: Ongoing
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: Ongoing
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Audience: Aging
Project or Activity: End of Life Series
Content or Curriculum: Parenting a Second Time Around, Life Story/Memory Banking, Traditions, AARP Prepare to Care, Estate Planning, Funeral plan
Inputs: FCS Agent/ collaborations with Boone & Campbell, Social Security/ Medicare
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: All ages
Project or Activity: Caregiving
Content or Curriculum: AARP Prepare to Care,
Inputs: Partner with community resources related to programs/listed in FGs
Date: April 2025
Audience: Youth- third Grade and Under
Project or Activity: Nutrition Education
Content or Curriculum: Laugh and Learn Series
Inputs: FCS Agent and program assistant
Date: Monthly September 2024- through May 2025
Audience: General publicProject or activity: Class on Preparing for a Disaster
Content or curriculum: Ky CES resources
Inputs: Kentucky CES agents and specialists, resources and community partners
Date: February-March 2025
Audience: Senior High school students
Activity: Adulting 101 series
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: FCS agents, Family Resource Cen Coordinators
Date September 2024 through May 2025
Audience: youth 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H overnight Camping
Content or Curriculum: 4-H camp program
Inputs: Agent, Volunteers & Camp Staff
Date: Summer 2025
Author: Diane Kelley
Major Program: Health & Wellbeing
The U.K., Cooperative Extension Service and a former Kenton County 4-H member who is a current middle school teacher planned and executed educational programs for middle school health students in Kenton County. The Kenton County Extension Council, the 4-H Council, and the 2023 Expansion and Review committee surveys identified health among youth as an important life skill and the 4-H program should continue to provide educational opportunities. The U.K. CES 4-H agent (Kelley) cooperat
