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CYFERnet Celebrates Older Americans Month
This May we celebrate Older Americans Month and its theme: Choices for Independence. The theme was selected by the U.S. Administration on Aging to encourage the efforts of baby boomers and older adults to achieve healthy aging. The month-long celebration highlights the need for mid-life and older persons to make thoughtful choices that can help them remain healthy, productive, and financially secure in their later lives. Here are just some of the many resources available through CYFERnet aimed at achieving healthy aging.
Aging Gracefully: Making the Most of Your Later Life Adventure
"Aging Gracefully" is a complete educational program on positive aging. It was produced by the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and may be used free-of-charge for non-profit educational purposes. The Program features a research-based publication and provides a range of creative teaching tools and resources.
Baby Boomers Come of Age!
This curriculum addresses issues of interest to Baby Boomers such as money, health, and many other issues. Born between 1946 and 1964, many Boomers are now reaching their 50s, and are preparing for the "second" stage of their lives. Includes a step-by-step guide for the presenter, plus master copies for more than 50 overheads and more than 50 handouts.
Positive Aspects of Aging (PDF)
This fact sheet describes the positive aspects of growing older, such as being wiser and having the opportunity to become grandparents.
Golden Years Are Active Years, Study Shows
Rocking chairs, shuffleboard matches, and card games are getting stiff competition from paid work, volunteering, and caregiving in the lives of older Americans, new research from the Urban Institute shows. Almost 80% of those age 55 and older spend time working, volunteering for an organization, taking care of family members, or helping people outside their own households. Nine out of 10 adults age 55 to 64 take part in at least one activity. Eight out of 10 adults 65-74 and almost 6 in 10 age 75 and older participate in one or more activities. Learn more about the benefits of volunteering as we age.
2005 Cooperative Extension System Publication on Aging Issues
In collaboration with CSREES National Program Leader, Caroline Crocoll, Cooperative Extension System faculty have contributed information and resources to the development of the 45-page 2005 Cooperative Extension System Resources, Contacts, and Collaborations: Aging Issues, with resources and contacts on aging issues organized by state. This e-publication includes the name and contact information for each of the partner institutions, as well as more detailed contact information for the heads of the aging education programs.
Dispelling the Myths of Aging (PDF)
This four-page fact sheet describes the affects of the aging process. It details the physical changes to the senses, body systems and functions and mental changes. It also describes how caregivers can assist the elderly through these changes.
Elders: Staying Involved (PDF)
This 3-page fact sheet describes the benefits of leisure activities to the elderly population. It also identifies leisure activities that may be enjoyed by the elderly.
Live Well, Live Long: Health Promotion & Disease Prevention for Older Adults
This website sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Society on Aging provides strategies and materials designed to increase the understanding of the changing health and social service needs of an aging and diverse population. The strategies provide tools for professionals in stand-alone modules designed to complement existing health promotion programs.
Take Five: Simplify
Far from being selfish or irresponsible, taking time for yourself on a regular basis can make you a better parent, spouse, worker—and a happier person as well. When you take five to do something you like, however, brain chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins are released, triggering feelings of well-being. Increased demands on the job and at home have made managing work and family life increasingly difficult for all. Although originally considered just a woman's issue, research indicates that men are as likely as women to have difficulty managing work-family demands.
Eating for Health: Nutrition for Life’s Second Half
This fact sheet describes the benefits of eating healthy at all ages of your life. There are also tips on keeping a healthy balance in your diet.
Gardening with Seniors
This fact sheet provides information, ideas, or tips on the positive effects of gardening for seniors.
Biotechnology and the Food You Eat
This is a fact sheet on the biological alteration of plants and animals. It provides information, ideas, or tips on how they've applied this process into what seniors are eating daily.
Life Savors: How to Simplify Your Life
This is a fact sheet on simplifying your life with ten easy steps to follow for the most simple, non-stressful days.
Maintaining Nutrition as We Age
This is a fact sheet on maintaining a healthy living style while aging occurs. It provides information, ideas, or tips on how to exercise and eat right through the latter parts of your life.
Steps to Healthier Aging
This site provides information on the You Can! - Steps to Healthier Aging program, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Steps to a Healthier U.S. initiative, which encourages Americans of every age to make healthier choices. The You Can! campaign is designed to increase the number of older adults who are active and healthy by using a partnership approach to mobilize communities.
Well-Being in Later Life
Many people think of later life as a time of increasing complaints and decreasing abilities. It may seem that later life is a time to dread. But there is another side to the story. This fact sheet describes some of the positive aspects of getting older and enjoying later life.
Generations United
Generations United (GU) is the only national membership organization focused solely on promoting intergenerational strategies, programs, and public policies. GU serves as a resource for educating policymakers and the public about the economic, social, and personal imperatives of intergenerational cooperation.
Grandletters
Grandletters was designed to strengthen the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren who are separated by distance. The program can also be used by elders who “adopt” a child to be their grandchild. Children who have no natural grandparents may enjoy being a sort of pen pal to a special elder friend. The terms grandparent and grandchild as used here refer to a relationship, not heredity. By using the mail to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences, grandparents and grandchildren can draw closer together, learn from each other and build a reservoir of happy memories.
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