Empower Individuals and Families to Adapt to Changes
Associated With the Aging Process
2014-2015
According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010), 18.5% of Americans and 18.4% of Kansans are age 60+.
The population of the nation and of the state will continue to grow older, as the Baby Boomer generation (those born between 1946-1964) moves into later life. This aging of the population will have significant consequences.
Older adults are more likely to be affected by chronic disease. According to the CDC (2011), 80% of older adults manage one chronic condition, while 50% of older adults are managing at least two.
Chronic diseases affect many aspects of life, including disability. In 2009, in Kansas, 18.9% of adults reported activity limitations due to physical, mental, or emotional problems and 7% reported having a health problem that required the use of special equipment, such as a cane, a wheelchair, or a special bed or telephone (Kansas Department of Health and Environment).
All aspects of society are predicted to feel an impact related to these societal changes, including education, health and wellness, health care, family relationships, work and home environments, agriculture, community life, politics, and the economy. Research-based educational opportunities that address aging and disability-related issues are timely and relevant, and the necessity of these programs will increase in the future. K-State Research and Extension is dedicated to disseminating knowledge and teaching skills related to older adults, adults with disabilities, and their families.
Through Adult Development and Aging programming, participants will gain knowledge and confidence, enabling them to positively manage and adapt to personal or family life events/transitions.
Other community members will benefit as participants will be engaged and secure members of their families and communities.
Short-Term:
• Program participants will gain knowledge about issues facing older adults.
• Program participants will become aware of local resources to assist aging adults.
• Program participants will gain knowledge about adaptive living.
• Program participants will become aware of local resources to support adaptive living.
• Program participants will gain knowledge about health and wellness issues facing older adults and adults with disabilities.

• Program participants will become aware of local resources to support the health and wellness of older adults and adults with disabilities.
Evaluation Questions:
• After participating in a KSRE adult development and aging program, what knowledge did participants gain?
• After participating in a KSRE adult development and aging program, are participants able to identify local resources to help address these issues?
Medium-Term:
• Program participants will become pro-active in relation to issues facing older adults.
• Program participants will make adaptations to improve quality of life.
• Program participants will take steps to manage or improve their personal health and wellness or the health and wellness of older adults or adults with disabilities.
Evaluation Questions:
• Three-six months after participating in the program, what steps or changes have participants taken to address issues of adult development and aging?
Long-Term:
The long-term outcome of these efforts is to empower older adults and adults with disabilities to be engaged and secure members of their families and communities.
Evaluation Questions:
Are older adults and adults with disabilities engaged and secure members of their families and communities?

Participants
•
◦ adults
◦ adults with chronic disease
◦ adults with disabilities
◦ older adults
◦ caregivers
◦ emerging caregivers
Activities
Provide community leadership for aging and disability issues in general, with a specific focus on providing aging in place, adaptive living, and health and wellness of older adults and adults with disabilities education, using workshops, meetings, presentations, exhibits, individual consultation, media, and the following curricula and materials:
• Community Aging Conferences
•
Fashion an Easier Lifestyle with Assistive Technology
(leader training as requested, Power Point, fact sheets, leader's guide, poster display, postcards; on line learning lesson; The LiveAbility
House in Second Life; SageStories; web site)
•
Legally Secure Your Financial Future
(leader training as requested, Power Point, fact sheets, leader's guide, poster display, postcards, web site)
• TBIoptions (online program, interactive map, fact sheet, poster display, postcards, notes)
• Additional individualized educational efforts may be supported through the use of the following:
◦
Alzheimer's Caregiving at Home
(toolkits located in Area Offices)
◦ eXtension
(Ask an Expert platform, fact sheet, poster, web site)
◦ Master of Memory (as provided by Texas AgriLife Extension Service)
◦ The Healthy Caregiver (on line resource)
• Muir, Anna - Extension Agent , Phillips-Rooks Extension District