Gerontology - Amarillo

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Extension Gerontology

Gerontology expertise at Amarillo — supporting statewide Family and Community Health programming from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Resources for Better Health Among Texas’ Aging Populations

Extension Gerontology programming at Amarillo supports outreach and community education efforts to Texas’ older adults, their caregivers, and the professionals who serve them. We develop resources and materials that focus on the health and well-being of the aging population in Texas, serving them in their local communities through our extensive network of county Extension agents for Family and Community Health.

Faculty

Andy Crocker

Senior Extension Program Specialist – Gerontology and Health, Family and Community Health, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Research and impacts

Our applied research includes the development of educational programming to support optimal aging with topics including caregiving, fall risk reduction, health literacy, and memory, among others. We also administer grant projects that support national and state efforts such as OneOp Lifespan Caregiving, a multi-year effort funded by the U.S. Department of Defense to support helping professionals working with military families at installations around the world; and Community Outreach Coordinators, a multi-year effort funded by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities to support accessibility and inclusion in Extension programming. Our faculty also lead Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Master Wellness Program, trained volunteers working with and through their local county Extension agent to deliver health programming in communities.

We interface with many local and regional organizations including the Area Agencies on Aging, Texas Department of State Health Services, local community colleges, residential facilities, and development boards, among others.

Our faculty’s professional memberships have included the Gerontological Society of America, the Texas Association of Aging Programs, the Texas Extension Specialists Association, Epsilon Sigma Phi, and Sigma Phi Omega.