Aging Well Workshop Series

North Dakota State University Extension and South Dakota State University Extension are hosting a series of free aging well workshops. These workshops are offered using Zoom.

There will be three presentations: Jan. 18, Feb. 15 and March 21. All presentations start at 9 a.m. MT and 10 a.m. CST and last one hour. They are free to attend, and you can sign up as an individual or invite a group as a watch party host. Ideal watch party hosts include county Extension offices, senior centers, libraries, or community centers.

Jan. 18 -Updates on Elder Law and Estate Planning in 2024 

Susan E.  Johnson-Drenth is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation and the President of JD Legal Planning PLLC, a Fargo, ND law firm focused on estate planning, elder law, probate, probate litigation, guardianship, and trust law, including special needs trusts for people with disabilities.

Workshop Objectives

1. Learn how Powers of Attorney provide family oversight, privacy and facilitate asset management and protection of planning. 

2. Learn how Health Care Directives provide a HIPPA release and uphold your wishes with dignity. 

3. Learn how to title your real estate and accounts to avoid a court probate upon your death.

4. Learn basic Medicaid requirements for long term care eligibility.
 

Workshop Summary

Everyone needs estate planning. But what are you supposed to ask for? What is helpful to know before meeting with an Attorney? An overview of 2024 Elder Law and Estate Planning Laws, including basic Medicaid eligibility requirements
for long term care. North Dakota residents will also benefit from learning about the new (and free!) Health Care Directive Registry.

Deadline to Register

Jan. 7 - Watch party
Jan 17 - Individual webinar

Register for Elder Law and Estate Planning

Feb. 15 - Healthy Living for Brain and Body

Michelle Kutner will help attendees learn about healthy living for their brain and body. Kutner joined the Alzheimer’s Association in April 2022 as the State Program Director for the South Dakota Chapter. Kutner is a licensed social worker who obtained her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Workshop Objectives

1. Identify how certain behaviors affect our brains and bodies.
2. List strategies for healthy decision-making for 
• Sleep
• Smoking
• Mental Health
• Physical Activity
• Balanced Nutrition
• Cognitive Engagement
• Social Engagement

Workshop Summary

This program is intended to provide you with science-based recommendations about taking care of our brains and bodies. Learn about the latest research providing insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. 

Deadline to Register

Feb. 1 - Watch party
Feb. 14 - Individual webinar

Register for Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body

March 21 - strategies for staying in your home longer

Leacey Brown and Jane Strommen will describe strategies for staying in your home longer . This presentation will focus on the need for accessibility to age in place. Brown and Strommen are gerontologists who have been working together since 2017 to provide University Extension education and outreach about getting older in North Dakota and South Dakota. 

Workshop Objectives

1. Learn structural features of a home that make aging in place easier.
2. Learn about home modifications and how they help you to age in place.
3. Learn strategies to finance modifications.
 

Workshop Summary

The design of the home is a critical part of aging in place. Many older people are living in homes with small bathrooms, narrow halls/doors, and other features that become barriers during later life decline. For this reason, they need home modification to remain in the home long-term. This workshop will describe design elements in your home that can make it easier or harder for you to age in place. You will also learn ideas about renovations or changes to make to age in place. Financing options will also be included during the session. Finally, you will learn about a group in ND and SD working to raise awareness about how this issue is affecting individuals and families.

Deadline to Register

March 6 - Watch party
March 20 - Individual webinar

Register for Staying in Your Home Longer