WOODFORD COUNTY

Program Date: 02/05/2025

Coping with cumulative loss is distressing. These past few years have been upending for the many whose brains battled cognitive overload trying to process fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. The ongoing health and political crises have affected people’s mental health around the world. The effects will be long-lasting. Many people are suffering — some worse than others, depending on gender, personality, age, health, socioeconomic status, and race. Ongoing research shows that people are experiencing mental health issues at higher rates than before the pandemic. Issues include stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

To help Woodford County seniors deal with the many different types of loss individuals and families may have experienced over the past few years, the Family and Individual Development Program of Work (POW) is reaching in (versus reaching out) and addressing self-care. The 2022-2023 program focuses on Self-Care and Mental Health: Taking care of YOU. 

To encourage self-care, the seniors at the Woodford County Senior Center took part in the Self-Care and Mental Health: Taking care of YOU lesson. Nine participants attended the lesson and six completed a post-lesson evaluation. Of these, 100% reported that they gained knowledge about mental health and self-care, and 83% found the program to be helpful overall (17% is undecided). 

83% learned new ways to promote self-care through healthy eating (17% undecided), 100% through physical activity, 83% through sleep (17% undecided), and 83% through emotional expression (17% undecided).

67% of participants reported intentions to use suggestions from this lesson to enhance self-care and improve mental health (33% are undecided).  

33% of participants planned to put together and distribute self-care Survivor Kits. 

11% of participants were Black and 89% Caucasian. They ranged in age from 55-84.  55% were female and 45% were male. 

Participants attended this lesson because…

1. It was a lesson in our class.
2. I want to increase my learning in groups.

A valuable lesson, participants learned…

1. Positive influence is important.
2. There is value in group care.
3. Share with peace, not fear.
4. Schedule time for my daily needs.
5. Use a wall chart with details.