Healthy aging

Featured Programs

Walk With Ease: Walk With Ease (WWE) is an exercise program that can reduce pain and improve overall health. If you can be on your feet for 10 minutes without increased pain, you can have success with Walk With Ease!
Better Bones and Balance®: Better Bones and Balance® is an exercise program designed to gradually improve balance and strength to avoid falls and maintain independence.
StrongPeople™: StrongPeople™ is a nationally recognized, evidence-based community exercise program designed to increase the number of mid-life and older women participating in safe and effective strength training.

Helping Memory-Impaired Elders: A Guide for Caregivers

By Vicki L. Schmall Sally Bowman and Clara Pratt

Discusses the causes of dementia and how to cope with a progressive dementing illness, respond to dementia-caused behaviors, and communicate with a memory-impaired person. Provides guidelines for effective caregiving and for self-care for the caregiver.

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Photo Credit: tongpatong - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Latest Resources

How to support an aging family member?

Q: My father is 92 and living on his own. He is overall in good health and is highly independent, but he is widowed and struggles with depression. We would like him to consider moving closer to family or to a community ...

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Tips for a healthy heart?

Q: I'd like to know if there are any tips you can provide for improving my heart health. Are there certain foods I can eat or activities I should do?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Extension exercise classes?

Q: I just read about a program called StrongWomen that is offered in some parts of the country. It sounds as though it's something I could really benefit from in the new year. Does my county Extension office offer anything like this? Thank you in advance.

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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Coping with Caregiving: How to Manage Stress When Caring for the Elderly

By Vicki L. Schmall Clara Pratt and Sally Bowman

This guide offers suggestions to help caregivers maintain their personal well-being while providing quality care for a relative or another care receiver.

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Photo Credit: Yingyaipumi - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Latest News

Older adults in Malheur County build endurance and strength through exercise programs

Nine participants completed a six-week Walk With Ease program involving thrice-weekly sessions. They transitioned seamlessly to a self-directed walking program and beginning Better Bones & Balance program.

Barbara Brody | Apr 2024 | Impact story

Extension helps establish a statewide Walk With Ease referral process

A statewide process has been established through both Samaritan Health Services Health Education and Oregon Wellness Network to conduct health care referrals to the Walk with Ease program.

Allison Harris | Feb 2024 | Impact story

Partnership with Sherman County Senior Center expands Extension nutrition education program

Extension staff in Sherman County are now offering older adult programs at Sherman County Senior Center satellite locations throughout the county.

Cindy Brown | Apr 2023 | Impact story

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Nutrition for Older Adults: Preventing Malnutrition as the Body Ages

By Dusti Linnell Cheryl Kirk Rose Jepson-Sullivan Christine Mouzong and Sally Bowman

Poor nutrition can cause a cascade of health problems for older adults. This guide lists the nutrients of concern for people over 60 — from antioxidants to calcium to water. Learn how eating well can stave off chronic disease.

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Photo Credit: Joshua Resnick - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

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Health outreach

Food security

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Healthy homes

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Physical activity

Upcoming Events

Apr 25

Foods that Fight Cancer

10:00 am - 11:00 am PDT Online

Apr 30

Food as Medicine

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Gold Beach , OR

Meet Our Experts

Cindy Brown

4-H/FCH-SNAP Program Coordinator

Contact me for questions on 4-H youth development and healthy living programming in Sherman County as well as healthy living topics such as MyPlate, gardening, food preservation and food storage!

Lauren Kraemer

Associate Professor, Family and Community Health

Contact me with all your health and wellness questions in the Columbia River Gorge.

Robin Maille

Family & Community Health/SNAP-Ed

Associate Professor of Practice, Extension FCH

Stephanie Polizzi

Family & Community Health

Contact for information about foods that prevent or arrest chronic disease.

Have a question? Ask Extension!

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How to support an aging family member?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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