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AEHC Educational Emphasis
2007-2009
Major Focus - Strong Women
Minor Focus - Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment
(Diabetes, Cardiovascular and Cancer)
The Situation
The growth of the population age 65 and over affects
many aspects of our society, challenging policymakers, families,
businesses, and health care providers, among others, to meet the needs
of aging individuals.
In 2003, nearly 36 million people age 65 and over lived in the United
States, accounting for just over 12 percent of the total population.
Over the 20th century, the older population grew from 3 million to 35
million. The oldest-old population (those age 85 and over) grew from
just over 100,000 in 1900 to 4.2 million in 2000.
The Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) will start turning
65 in 2011, and the number of older people will increase dramatically
during the 2010-2030 period. The older population in 2030 is projected
to be twice as large as their counterparts in 2000, growing from 35
million to 71.5 million and representing nearly 20 percent of the total
U.S. population.
The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the population age 85 and over
could grow from 4.2 million in 2000 to nearly 21 million by 2050. Some
researchers predict that death rates at older ages will decline more
rapidly than is reflected in the U.S. Census Bureau’s projections, which
could lead to faster growth of this population.
Supporting the efforts of older adults to maintain full lives in their
communities must include attention to their emotional and financial
well-being as well as their physical and mental health and particularly
the functioning of the mind.
Goal
To promote healthy lifestyles, attitudes, and habits
that contributes to independent living and enhances the quality of life
of older Arkansans.
Program Ideas
Lessons
Skin Deep: A comprehensive Leader Training Guide on why
and how to maintain healthy skin
Getting the most Out of Your Medicines: How to Buy Them is a
comprehensive Leader Training Guide on how to buy medicines wisely.
Getting the Most Out of Your Medicines: How to Use Them is a
comprehensive Leader Training Guide on how to use medicines wisely.
Healthy Lifestyles for Healthy Living is a comprehensive Leader Training
Guide on how to identify and adopt the healthy lifestyles that promote
good health.
Healthy Exercise for Healthy Minds and Bodies: A comprehensive Leader
Training Guide on why and how individuals should safely exercise for
strength, balance, endurance, and flexibility.
Walk Across Arkansas: A simple, inexpensive, and safe program that
encourages friendly competition while promoting healthy exercise to
improve fitness and well being.
Reshape Yourself: A 15-week weight management program focusing on
healthy eating and regular physical activity that helps Arkansas achieve
and maintain a healthier weight.
Right Bite Cooking School: A three-session program that helps Arkansas
with diabetes learn to manage their blood glucose levels by planning and
preparing good tasting meals with less fat, salt and sugar, and more
fruits, vegetables and fiber.
Managing Arthritis: A leader Training Guide that describes symptoms of
arthritis and offers exercise that benefit individuals with the disease.
Stay Healthy by Staying Fit: The Benefits of Strength Training: A Leader
Training Guide that includes a health screening questionnaire and
describes benefits and descriptions of safe strength training exercises.
Healthy Weighs - Eating Well, Living Well: A Leader Training Guide
offering ways to determine and maintain a healthy weight through good
nutrition and compare calories expended for various physical activities.
Bone Up on Osteoporosis: A Leader Training Guide that offers instruction
for building strong bones and protection from fractures.
Portion Distortion: A Leader Training Guide that illustrates healthy
serving sizes in easy to understand and remember terms.
Eating Healthy When Eating Out: A Leader Training Guide designed to help
participants make healthy choices when eating in restaurants
Sharing Your Family Legacy Through Journals and Storytelling: A Leader
Training Guide to help you gather and share your family legacy.
Celebrating Family Life: A Leader Training Guide with ideas for making
family relationships more satisfying and meaningful.
Thinking Outside the Box: Renewing Family Relationships is a Leader
Training Guide that can help people think about family relationships in
new ways.
Building Family Assets . . . and Memories is a Leader Training Guide
that can help you find ways to strengthen family relationships. (This
lesson is NOT about money management.)
Stress Management provides Leader Training Guide on managing stress.
How to Brighten Your Day is a Leader Training Guide that describes the
benefits of optimism and shows practical ways to find and appreciate the
brighter side of life.
Educational Opportunities
Exercise classes - organize and attend aerobic, water
aerobic, strength training, pilates, yoga, tai chi and other exercise
classes.
Health fairs - organize and attend health fairs that offer screening for
cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure and health information.
Exercise videos - a good resource for exercising in the privacy of your
home.
Advocacy - get involved in your community to bring about physical
activity and healthy nutrition in the schools.
Community Service
Work with Senior Centers, church groups, and nursing
homes to develop appropriate exercise programs.
Provide community-based activities that offer materials and support for
walking teams.
Seek out funding for public walking tracks and trails.
Education Programs
Assist in the planning and implementation of physical activities using
schools and community facilities.
Sponsor and promote walking and exercise programs in the schools and for
after school programs.
Work with state and local health providers, agencies, and organizations
to conduct health fairs and screenings.
Make and provide motivational items for individuals participating in
exercise programs such as sweatbands and pedometers.
Provide scholarships for lower income children to participate in
organized sports programs.
Serve as a mentor to groups and individuals to encourage continued
exercise.
Stay politically informed; monitor legislation that affects health.
Provide displays to local merchants promoting healthy lifestyles.
Provide transportation for individuals wanting to attend exercise
activities.
Support other bona fide health programs.
Promote inter-generational programs that can benefit all age groups.
Share what you have learned about well-being with people in your faith
community.
Leadership
Work with local leaders, develop programs, support other
organizations, assume active committee roles, assist with education
programs, promote seminars and workshops, disseminate resource
materials, teach lessons, and be an advocate for healthy activities and
programs in the community and schools.
Track legislation and regulations that impact health and wellness. Keep
club members informed of possible legislative changes and contact
lawmakers to support or oppose new laws.
Present brief educational reports on Social Security, Medicare, choosing
a nursing home and other related topics at monthly EHC meetings.
Track legislation and regulations that impact care giving. Keep club
members informed of possible legislative changes and contact lawmakers
to support or oppose new laws.
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