Translating Basic Research on the Aging Family to Caregiving Interventions
Megan Gilligan, Ph.D. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University Older adults will represent 22% of the United States (U.S.) population by 2040, which is the largest proportion of older adults ever in U.S. history (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). As the older adult population rapidly increases, the need […]
Stay Independent
Nearly one-quarter of older Iowans who took part in a statewide nutritional risk assessment were found to be at risk for malnutrition or malnourished. This is very similar to the national average. When we examined the differences between those who were at risk and those who were not, four areas came up: not eating three […]
Does age really predict technology use?
Leacey E. BrownSDSU Extension Gerontology Field Specialist The answer is no, age and technology use are not as closely linked as we might think. While older adults use technology at lower rates than the general population, notable differences exist between older users and non-users. Adults age 65 and older that use technology tend to be […]
Framing Aging
Kristin Litzelman, PhD, University of Wisconsin As Americans are living longer, healthier lives, the country is experiencing demographic changes – in many communities, older adults are making up a larger and larger segment of the population. These changes have substantial impacts on communities, including what services they offer, how they distribute resources, and how they […]
Gray for a Day
Erin Yelland Kansas State University Our latest webinar, found here, discussed the topic of age-related sensory decline and its impacts on daily life. At the end of the webinar, I briefly introduced a program called Gray for a Day, that seeks to introduce people of all ages to age-related sensory decline, encourage participants to adopt […]
Protecting Yourself From Senior Scams
Erin Yelland Kansas State University Protecting yourself from scams that commonly target seniors does not have to be difficult. Follow these simple steps to ensure you are being safe. It is estimated that more than 5 million seniors (people aged 65 and over) are scammed each year in the United States – at the estimated […]
What are the benefits of sharing housing?
Leacey Brown, M.S., Gerontology Field Specialist, South Dakota State I recently attended the 2019 Aging in America Conference. While there, I attended a presentation called – Aging in Place without Isolation: The Sharing Housing Option. The presentation was led by Janet Cramer and Annamarie Pluhar. Both individuals are affiliated with Sharing Housing, Inc. You may […]
Making A Case for Congregate Meals
Dr. Sandy Procter Kansas State University Several aspects of congregate, or group, senior meals benefit participants, and in turn, those are vital to the overall health of a community. Here are some of those benefits beyond just the nutritious meals: Sense of community. Seniors who participate in the meals are able to connect with their […]
Is your community a good place to grow up and grow old?
Kristin Litzelman University of Wisconsin Older adults are a dynamic resource in our communities with diverse needs and wants. It can be a challenge, though, for communities to meet the needs of older residents and families, while also providing opportunities for economic and community engagement. Becoming more aging-friendly is a benefit to all communities, helping […]
When Things Get Tough: Handling Difficult Situations, People, and Ourselves in Conflict
Hunter Stanfield Kansas State University Over the past few years, I’ve had opportunities to work with small and large business, non-profits, schools, camps, universities, and even extension professionals to address a topic that wreaks havoc among employees in those organizations. To many, that topic is a dirty, four-letter word that we call conflict. In one […]