What’s New in Being Old?

Jane Strommen & Dena Kemmet

November 7, 2012

Why Should Extension Focus On Gerontology Now?

• North Dakota’s age distribution will shift from 2010 to 2025 largely due to the aging of the baby boom population

• From 2010 to 2025, residents ages 65 and older are projected to expand by 52% - 50,583 residents

• In 2025, residents ages 65 and older are projected to be 18 percent of the total population (up from 14 % in 2010)

Source: Center for Social Research

What’s New (in Extension) in Being Old?

• Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTFC)• Stepping On- fall prevention training• Universal Design Education • Grandparenting Education• Adopt-A-Grandparent Toolkit• Information & Services

There are only four kinds of people in the world -

Those who have been caregiversThose who currently are caregivers

Those who will be caregivers, And those who will need caregivers.

- Rosalynn Carter

Powerful Tools for Caregivers• In the six weekly classes, caregivers develop a wealth of

self-care tools to: – reduce personal stress; – change negative self-talk; – communicate their needs to family members and

healthcare or service providers; – communicate more effectively in challenging

situations; recognize the messages in their emotions, – deal with difficult feelings; and – make tough caregiving decisions.

Program Origins and Development

• PTFC was developed over 3 years of pilot testing, refinement and evaluative research to assess the program’s effectiveness.

• The program has been offered for over 12 years. • Currently, over 1,700 Class Leaders have been

trained in 32 states. Since the program’s inception, PTFC materials have reached over 70,000 caregivers.

Curriculum Shown to Improve:

• Self-Care Behaviors: (e.g. increased exercise, relaxation and medical check-ups)

• Management of Emotions: (reduced guilt, anger, and depression)

• Self-Efficacy: (increased confidence in coping with caregiving demands)

• Use of Community Resources: (increased utilization of local services)

Class Leader Requirements

• A co-leader with whom to teach the 6-week caregiver class

• Group facilitation skills• Experience working with family caregivers• Attend Class Leader training – 2 full days• Teach at least two caregiver class series

within the first year

Local Class Leader Training

• Trained facilitators from Iowa State University Extension Service will be delivering a 2-day workshop in Fargo next spring. Tentative dates: May 14 & 15

• If you are interested in learning more about the training, please complete the sign-up sheet during this meeting.

• Website: http://www.powerfultoolsforcaregivers.org/

Great Caregiving Resource

• Recommended Reading:

Share the Care: How to Organize a Group to Care for Someone Who Is Seriously Ill

by Cappy Capossela & Sheila

Warnock

Stepping On

• 7-week falls prevention class – incorporates behavior change theory– found in research to be effective in reducing falls

among older adults by about 30 percent.

• ND Department of Health recently provided training to 20 individuals to lead classes in the state.

Universal Design

Universal design is about creating or remodeling a home that is adaptable, flexible, safe, and easy-to-use for all residents and visitors, regardless of

age, size, or ability.

Universal Design• Most adults want to age in

place and remain in their own homes as long as possible.

• North Dakota has a rapidly aging population, especially in rural areas.

• Most frail older adults will be challenged to age in place without a successful fit between their home environment and their needs. When a fit does not occur, physical differences become barriers to living independently.

Universal Design Features

• Step-free entrance• Main living areas on entry floor level

(kitchen, full bath, & bedroom)• Wide doorways and hallways• Lever door and faucet handles• Multi-height kitchen countertops• Kitchen & bathroom cabinets/shelves that

are easy to reach

Design Features-continued

• Well-lit hallways & stairways• A bathtub or shower with a non-slip bottom

or floor• Blocking in the bathroom walls so grab

bars can be added as needed• Secure handrails on both sides of

stairways

Universal Design Program

• Developed by Dr. Susan Ray-Degges, NDSU Department of Apparel, Design and Hospitality Management

• Includes PowerPoint, Home Modification Checklists, and tons of resources!

• Program recently updated• Suggestions for presentations

Grandparenting Education• Nearly 6,000 children are living

with grandparents in North Dakota

• Statewide, the number of children living with grandparents rose 62 percent between 1990 and 2000

• A series of educational bulletins are being revised and/or developed on a broad range of grandparenting issues

Okay.

Adopt-A-Grandparent Toolkit

• Bridges the gap between generations by providing opportunities:– for older adults to learn about current trends– for students to learn about past trends

• Promotes a sense of well being and satisfaction for older adults and a sense of confidence in the younger generation

Toolkit Available• Toolkit is available at the ND Partners in

Nursing Gerontology Consortium website:

http://www.ndsu.edu/pin/resources/

• Toolkit includes the following: informational letter, recommended procedure, teacher/leader letter template, parent letter template, & participation and photo form template

Information & Services• NDSU Extension Gerontology Website –

coming soon!– ND Aging and Disability Resource – LINK

Statewide: 1-800-451-8693

www.carechoice.nd.gov– State Health Insurance Counseling (SHIC)– State Aging Demographics

Future Plans

• Later-life transitions: family communications, driving, housing, caregiving, re-location, finances

• Care options and financial information• Shorter handouts: memory loss, elder

abuse, nutrition, sight & hearing• Working with communities-elder friendly• Your suggestions are encouraged!!!!!

Questions?

Please contact us:

Jane Strommen: jane.strommen@ndsu.edu

701-231-5948

Dena Kemmet: dena.kemmet@ndsu.edu

701-873-5195