71,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Kentucky. As the population of older Kentuckians grows in the state this public health crisis will increasingly affect all Kentucky families. Family and Consumer Sciences Agents in Barren and Warren Counties partnered to present Living Well with Alzheimer’s across South Central Kentucky to residents in the community. They collaborated with Alzheimer's Association, WBKO Television- Bowling Green, WPBM Proclaim Christian Broadcasting- Scottsville, Glasgow Daily Times, and Social Media platform(s) to educate community members on Alzheimer's awareness topics including but not limited to communication strategies, warning signs, healthy eating, and caregiving.  Introduction  

71,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Kentucky. As the population of older Kentuckians grows in the state this public health crisis will increasingly affect all Kentucky families. Family and Consumer Sciences Agents in Barren and Warren Counties partnered to present Living Well with Alzheimer’s across South Central Kentucky to the community residents.  

Program Description  

Agents collaborated with Alzheimer's Association, WBKO Television- Bowling Green, WPBM Proclaim Christian Broadcasting- Scottsville, Glasgow Daily Times, and Social Media platform(s) to educate community members on Alzheimer's awareness topics including but not limited to communication strategies, warning signs, healthy eating, and care-giving.  

Agents facilitated in-person classes with the Alzheimer's Association presenting at the Barren County (10 Warning Signs) and Warren County (Effective Communication Strategies) Extension Services during November 2019; 37 participants attended the programs. To provide further education opportunities and to market, the in-person classes the Agents presented and advertised via various media outlets. Both agents appeared and presented on the topic on Family Lifestyles, a TV program filming and airing out of Allen County, Kentucky. The Warren County Agent also provided insight on the topic on the Midday Live show on WBKO, Bowling Green, KY. The Barren County Agent provided columns on care-giving and Alzheimer's in the local newspaper, Glasgow Daily Times and the fall special publication printed by the same agency.  

Program Impact 

Thousands of residents in the Barren and Warren County areas were educated on Alzheimer's Awareness topics including warning signs, communication strategies and caring for your loved ones with the disease. Through social media platforms, local television stations, newspaper articles, and classes the two agents reached an audience of more than 100,000 people in Barren and Warren Counties and the surrounding areas. A relationship was established between newer agents and the Alzheimer's Association of  Kentucky to ensure continued programming collaborations in the future. In both continued interest in the additional related programs was expressed and in Warren County, class participants expressed their desire for an Alzheimer’s support group.