According to the Green County (United States) Census from 2017-2021, 23.5% of Green County residents under the age of 65 years have a disability. This percentage is significantly higher than in Kentucky which stands at 13.2%. Just Family Adult Day Health is an organization that provides services for elders and other adults with medical and rehabilitative needs to make friends, increase independence, and receive daily living support. The Green County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Just Family Adult Day Health in Green County to provide programs to their individuals that increase their independence and overall health in a fun way. 

            During May 2023, the FCS Agent presented a program over knife and measuring skills using nylon knives and paired a nutritious snack along with that. We had 14 participants in total. Each participant received their own cutting board and knife and prepared the “Plan Eat Move” Yogurt Sundae recipe. Each person measured out their own yogurt and cut up the fruit of their choice. A few of the participants were having a hard time cutting the fruit up on their own. Instead of doing it for them a solution was found that would be more beneficial. The solution that was for the FCS Agent to steadily position the fruit in a way that they were able to grip and hold the knife correctly. Yes, this took longer than what it took some of the others, but they ended with the same product. During this time, some of the table mates wanted to take over and just cut their fruit for them but the participant insisted on doing it themselves with a smile on their face. This newfound independence led to A LOT of cut up fruit. 

This program showed that you can gain independence about things that enrich your daily living such as measuring and having knife skills. Participants also got to prepare their own nutritious snack which some mentioned they would make at home because of the simplicity of the recipe. These mundane tasks may seem easy for some but to others they are a troubling daily task. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/greencountykentucky,KY/PST045222