NDSU Extension and South Dakota State University Extension are collaborating to offer “Aging Well Workshops” so individuals and families can learn about important topics related to aging. This series includes three workshops offered on January 15, February 19 and March 19.
NDSU Extension and South Dakota State University Extension are hosting a series of free aging well workshops. These workshops are offered as live Zoom webinars.
The three presentations will be held Jan. 15, Feb. 19 and March 19. All presentations start at 10 a.m. and last one hour. They are free to attend, and attendees can sign up as individual viewers or invite a group as a watch party host. Ideal watch party hosts include Extension offices, senior centers, libraries or community centers.
“We are excited to partner with local experts to offer these educational opportunities on important health and wellness topics which contribute to aging well,” says Jane Strommen, NDSU Extension gerontology specialist.
On Jan. 15, Joseph Rees — a geriatrician with Avera Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota — will kick off the series by presenting why exercise is vital throughout life and even more so as people age. Dr. Rees will describe how his patients benefit from exercise and will explain the advantages of different types of exercise and tips on how to incorporate them into everyday life.
On Feb. 19, Dakota Witzel, assistant professor at SDSU, will discuss mental health in older age. She will help to dispel some misconceptions about how mental health looks in older age. This session will teach how to spot the difference between conditions like depression and dementia, how to reach out to friends and family who may be experiencing mental health challenges and how to support better well-being.
On March 19, Susan E. Johnson-Drenth, a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, will provide updates on elder law and estate planning in 2025. Johnson-Drenth is the president of JD Legal Planning PLLC, a Fargo, North Dakota law firm focused on estate planning, elder law, probate, probate litigation, guardianship, and trust law, including special needs trusts for people with disabilities.
To register for any of the presentations, visit ndsu.ag/aging-well-ws25.
For more information about this workshop, or for questions about hosting a watch party, contact Jane Strommen at 701-231-5948 or jane.strommen@ndsu.edu.