North and South Dakota Universities to host free workshops aimed at promoting healthy aging
Fargo, North Dakota – South Dakota State University Extension and North Dakota State University Extension are offering a series of valuable, free workshops aimed at promoting healthy aging. These workshops, accessible via Zoom, are set to occur over three dates in 2024 – January 18, February 15, and March 21. Starting at 10 a.m. CST, each session is designed to last for an hour, providing insightful educational opportunities on various aspects of health and wellness for the elderly.
The workshops are not just open for individual attendance but also encourage group participation. They are perfect for watch parties, ideally hosted by county Extension offices, senior centers, libraries, or community centers. This inclusive approach allows for broader community engagement, making these valuable insights accessible to a wider audience.
Jane Strommen, an NDSU Extension gerontology specialist, highlights the significance of these workshops in offering top-notch educational content pertinent to aging well. Each presentation is tailored to address key aspects of elderly health and wellness.
The first session, scheduled for January 18, will be presented by Susan E. Johnson-Drenth, a certified elder law attorney from Fargo, North Dakota. Her focus will be on elder law and estate planning in 2024, providing crucial legal insights for the elderly and their families.
Following this, on February 15, Michelle Kutner will lead a session on healthy living for the brain and body. As a licensed social worker and program director for the South Dakota chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Kutner brings valuable expertise to this important topic.
The series concludes on March 21 with SDSU Extension Gerontology Field Specialist Leacey Brown and Jane Strommen discussing strategies to help older adults remain in their homes longer. Their presentation will emphasize the necessity of home modification to age in place, a topic of great relevance to the aging population. Brown and Strommen have been collaborating since 2017 to educate North Dakota and South Dakota residents about aging.
Those interested in participating can register by visiting extension.sdstate.edu/events, searching for “aging well”, and completing the registration form. Upon registration, attendees will receive a Zoom link for the event. This series of workshops presents a fantastic opportunity for the elderly and their caregivers to learn and implement strategies for a healthier, more fulfilling aging process.
