Eastern Kentucky has an aging population with higher occurrence than the national average of heart disease, cancer, depression and obesity to name a few of the top issues. The Family and Consumer Sciences Council recommended taking action, towards impacting these issues.Keys to Embracing Aging (KTEA) is a Cooperative Extension program that focuses on ways in which individuals can be empowered to take control of their own lifestyle decisions and behaviors in terms of health and well-being. The University of Kentucky and Kansas State Cooperative Extension Services are working to establish KTEA as an evidence-based curriculum.  The objectives include: 1) recognize that healthy behaviors and choices across the lifespan affect overall health, well-being, life quality, and longevity; and 2) adopt and sustain positive health and safety behaviors  Using evidence from centenarian studies combined with the medical literature on a healthy lifestyle, KTEA provided preventative education.   Forty-two rural counties, in Kentucky and Kansas, were randomly selected to participate in the study.  Family and Consumer Sciences agents from each participating county were trained to deliver the 12 monthly lessons.  Each FCS agent recruited ten participants, age 18 or older, to form a county cohort.  The 42 cohorts (423 participants) agreed to attend one 60-mintue lesson per month for 12 months, where a “key” lifestyle behavior was discussed, a post-session evaluation was administered and an improvement challenge was initiated.  The improvement challenge is a take-home component to improve each participant’s sense of self-efficacy with regard to health and safety behaviors and habits by challenging them to target and improve upon a specific behavior. Program effectiveness will continue to be monitored at 3- and 6-months post lesson completion.  The first five “Keys to Embracing Aging include: positive attitude, healthy eating, and physical, brain and social activity.  Over the year, cohort members gained a strong sense of community.  Such a sense of belonging taps powerfully into one’s psyche and contributes greatly to overall health, well-being and life quality (McMillan, 2014).  An established sense of belonging and accountability is also more likely to keep participants engaged throughout the project and beyond.            Of the 423 who participated in Lesson 1, 91% (383) reported intentions to implement at least one strategy toward a positive attitude, 64% (246) reported implementing at least one strategy within the 30 days, and 50% (193) reported an overall improved attitude as a result. Lesson 2: Healthy Eating included 392 participants.  Ninety percent (355) reported intentions to implement at least one strategy and 53% (209) reported implementing at least one strategy to develop healthier eating practices.  Participants reported drinking more water, eating more veggies, and increased awareness of portion sizes. Lesson 3: Physical Activity included 162 Kentucky participants.   As a result, 96% (156) reported intentions to implement at least one strategy and 60% (97) reported that they implemented at least one strategy to increase physical activity.   Behaviors reported include using the stairs instead of the elevator, planning to exercise, and parking further away from places to get more steps.Lesson 4: Brain Health included 331.  Ninety-four percent (311) reported intentions to implement at least one strategy with 50% (166) reported implementing at least one strategy to increase brain activity. Kentucky participants reported crossword puzzles and brain activity games, sewing and reading more frequently, as well as eating ate more brain food. Kansas participants played games (crossword and Sudoku), used non-dominant hand, and learned new things.Lesson 5: Social Activity included 293 participants.  As a result, 90% (263) reported intentions to implement at least one strategy to improve their engagement in meaningful social activity and 35% (103) reported that they implemented at least one strategy.  Activities included exercise classes, going to the park with grandkids, and visited with friends and family more often.