Event Recap — Creating an Age-Friendly Kansas

On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, KHI hosted a virtual event to launch the Age-Friendly Kansas initiative to support the growing aging population in Kansas. The event served as a launchpad for collaboration and shared intention among aging and public health professionals and other stakeholders to maintain and improve the health, well-being, independence and quality of life of Kansans as they age. 

The event introduced participants to the Age-Friendly Public Health Systems Initiative. Participants learned about the Age-Friendly Advisory Committee and the process to apply.  If you wish to learn more or get involved in the AFK initiative, contact Emma Uridge, euridge@khi.org

The advisory committee will assist with informing and developing the Age-Friendly Kansas Action Plan. This statewide plan aims to embed healthy aging practices and age-friendly principles throughout Kansas communities, public health systems and across multiple sectors. 

Event details:

• Presentation by Megan Wolfe, J.D., Senior Policy Development Manager at Trust for America’s Health (TFAH).
• Panel discussion with state partners, including: 
  • David Anderson, Aging Services Commissioner, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)
  • Derik Flerlage, Co-Bureau Director of Family Health, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
  • Chrisy Khatib, Deputy Director of Adult Protective Services, Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF)
  • Lainey Faulkner, Director of the Bureau of Health Promotion, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
• Group discussion with KHI, panel participants and audience members to envision what a multi-sector age-friendly ecosystem might look like for Kansas. 

A recording of this webinar is posted below.

Additional Resources

• Elder Abuse Screening Tools for Healthcare Professionals (National Center on Elder Abuse)
• Everyday Ageism and Health (Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, University of Michigan)
• Home Safety Tips for Adults (National Institute on Aging)
• Signs of Elder Abuse (National Center on Elder Abuse)

Our Partners in this Work 

This work is facilitated by the Kansas Health Institute in partnership and collaboration with our state partners for the Age-Friendly Kansas initiative.

This initiative is part of the Age-Friendly Public Health Systems (AFPHS) movement, in partnership with Trust for America’s Health and The John A. Hartford Foundation, along with the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI). The AFPHS movement aims to plug in the public health sector to strategically meet the needs of older adults in all settings, better maintaining their independence and quality of life and establishing healthy aging as a core public health service.

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