Author: Kelly Burgess
Planning Unit: Allen County CES
Major Program: Aging-General
Plan of Work: Improve Physical and Mental Health
Outcome: Initial Outcome
Health and safety-related decisions that individuals and families make across the lifespan directly affect overall well-being and the ability to age well. Yet many individuals make choices which result in poor overall health and high chronic disease rates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, senior adults have been more prone to isolation than usual and more than other age groups due to increased immune vulnerability. After speaking with the director of the Scottsville Senior Center, who stated that the seniors missed their usual activities and social time together, the Family Consumer Sciences Extension Agent partnered with The Senior Center to deliver the modified Keys to Embracing Aging as weekly challenges and self-taught lessons through “grab and go” newsletter style programming. The program was also made available to Allen County Extension Homemakers who were interested in the topic. Keys to Embracing Aging is a Cooperative Extension educational health intervention aimed at improving overall health by focusing on ways in which individuals and families can be empowered to take control of their own lifestyle decisions and behaviors in terms of health and well-being. This program is important because “strong, stable and resilient families are crucial to the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and society” (K-State Extension, n.d.). Sixty three individuals received the weekly newsletter program, and twelve (12) participants completed pre-program evaluations. Most participants reported regular healthy lifestyle practices across all 12 “keys”. However, one (1) participant reported the need to maintain a positive attitude and find more “me time.” Two (2) participants reported that they do not engage in regular meaningful social activity. Three (3) participants reported that they did not know their health numbers. Lastly, eating healthy (n=1), stress management (n=1), managing finances (n=1), and getting enough sleep (n=1) were also noted as areas that need improvement. One participant reported the desire “to be able to return to normal lifestyle and do regular activities (especially [at the] senior center).” In addition to reading the publications and completing the weekly challenges, participants were encouraged to keep track of how many reinforcement activities they completed each week in order to be entered for a prize drawing at the conclusion of the program after returning post-evaluations. Of the participants who returned the post-program evaluation (n=11); 100% reported that the “Grab and Go” learning bags motivated them to stay healthy and active while sheltering at home and increased their understanding of how lifestyle choices affect overall health and well-being. 100% also reported improvement with the following behaviors: positive attitude, physical activity, getting enough sleep, and taking “me” time. 82% reported improvement with healthy eating, 73% reported improvement with regular mental (brain) stimulation, practicing safety, and staying in-tune with the times, 64% reported improvement with stress management, and 55% reported improvement with engaging in meaningful social activity and financial management. The program motivated two participants to share their plans to move forward, “I have decided to plan and set priorities before starting my day/establish a routine,” and, “I need to know my health number to help control blood sugar. I need a daily routine to stay focused on my health.” This was a new partnership between the FCS Agent and the Senior Center that will hopefully be continued with other programs in the future.
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