Poverty

Educational Programming for Senior Citizens

In Stewart County, 30 percent of seniors live below poverty level and 26 percent have less than a ninth grade education. Information that leads to better health and nutrition is vitally important for this population group. The UGA Cooperative Extension agent in family and consumer sciences planned monthly educational programs and activities for the senior groups in Stewart County. Topics have included information on various nutrients; reduction of fat, salt and sugar; food safety; supplements; diabetes; disaster preparedness; increasing the power of the food dollar and the importance of physical activity. More than 36 hours of educational instruction was given to more than 580 senior program participants. More information was distributed in 205 newsletters. As one student said, "Because of these programs, I have become much more conscious of practices that affect my health." (2008)

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