Overview: The Keys to Aging Expansion program educated individuals in communities throughout Kansas and Kentucky about healthy aging through the lifespan.  Supported by funding from a 2017 USDA Rural Health and Safety Education grant, Extension Agents in 42 rural counties taught the 12-month programming effort to 423 total participants. Upon conclusion of the project (August 2019), leaderships final steps have included analyzing participant follow-up feedback. The project team worked in collaboration with the Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation at Kansas State University to develop a short survey to collect input from the participants related to successes, challenges, and impacts from the program. The final evaluation was sent to participants who were identified as having participated in the majority (75%) of the Keys programs. The survey was mailed in July 2018 to 96 individuals and it closed in September 2018 with 79 responses, for an 82% response rate. Of those responses, 77 completed the survey (50 from Kansas; 27 from Kentucky). 

Successes/Accomplishments: When asked about their biggest highlights and accomplishments, respondents most frequently mentioned a healthier diet (n = 22) and increased exercise (n = 14). Sixty respondents indicated that they were completely satisfied with the overall goal of increasing knowledge related to health and well-being.  Similarly, 51 respondents indicated that they were completely satisfied with the overall goal of improving positive health and safety behaviors. Most respondents mentioned healthy eating (n = 16), physical activity, taking time for yourself, and social activity (ns = 9 each), as the Keys that had significant meaning for them. 

Due to the program being 12 months in length, there was a significant decrease in participation from Key 1 through Key 12. Consequently, project leadership felt it was necessary to gather input from those participants who committed to a majority of the 12 Keys. The respondents were asked what motivated them to attend the lessons in which they specified how the information from the program was valuable and interesting to learn (n = 30) and the Extension agent was engaging (n = 14). In addition, a few other respondents mentioned the social aspect of meeting with others who share common experiences and learning from those discussions.  

• I was interested in the practical suggestions to keep myself active and engaged in improving different areas of my life.
• Each month we had a different topic, so it was not boring and our extension agent always keeps my attention because she makes everything interesting.
• Meeting monthly with others in my age group. Realizing we all face the same challenges. Meeting a few new people.

Impacts from Program: Based on their participation in each Key, a majority of respondents indicated that they made changes in their lifestyle as a result of the program. The highest rated Keys were positive attitude (n = 71), brain activity (n = 69), and healthy eating (n = 69).  In addition, sixty-eight respondents stated that they have continued to use the information and resources from this program. Fifty-five of those respondents indicated maintaining a healthier diet (n = 19) and exercising more (n = 12). 

Participants were also given the opportunity to provide examples of additional changes they may have made to their lifestyle. Fifty-five respondents stated that they have made other changes in their lifestyle based on what they learned in the program. Forty-eight respondents gave further clarification as to what they have changed, adapted, or continued to use. These respondents frequently mentioned making changes in exercise (n = 11) and changes to reduce stress (n = 8). 

• I am continuing to pay attention to the foods I choose. The resources help me with this.
• I am not sure, I think of any of the sessions as "challenging" from the standpoint of difficulty. All the units were well presented and logical with fairly reasonable follow-up activities, many of the topics coincided with programs that Ransom hospital was presenting in the same basic time frame in their Personal Action to Health program. (P.A.T.H.) So there was reinforcement for both programs.
• The biggest highlight has been in setting goals for my retirement within the parameters of my situation.   Even before my retirement I spent two summers helping my parents inventory, sort, and distribute all those things they had acquired in their 68 years of marriage.  Two years ago we prepared their house for the market and moved them to a retirement home in our town... my father to an apartment and my mother to nursing care.  My father couldn't accept that others could better care for her so he or I were with her throughout the days.  It was a bittersweet experience but one I was fortunate to have.  Your letter came right at the time of my mother's death.   During her last year, I was a member of Embracing Aging.  The topics gave me a chance to focus on myself and see that there were activities I could pursue at some point.  So I set goals.  There were times I could work towards them and times when stress was overwhelming and blocked out every other aspect of my life. 

Results/findings of this project have been presented at 2 national conferences. One publication is currently under review. The content of this program influenced HES administrators to support a professional development/Alumni and Friends Study Tour to Ikaria, Greece. Ikaria is an international “Blue Zone” or aging hot spot. The tour took place May 29-June 9, 2019 with 24 participants, including 17 Extension personnel. According to KERS FY 2018-2019, KTEA has been delivered to over 2,294 people across Kentucky.