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At first glance, it may seem unusual to see students stuffing cotton balls in their ears or noses, taping popsicle sticks to their fingers, or attaching popcorn kernels to their feet. This activity, however, serves a meaningful purpose: teaching participants about sensory decline in older adults. Students range from young children to health professionals, all learning how changes in hearing, taste, smell, sight, and touch can affect daily life.

Kansas State University’s aging specialists lead the “Gray for a Day” program through local extension offices in Kansas. The program simulates common challenges faced by older adults, from performing simple tasks to engaging in leisure and social activities. Cotton balls block hearing or smell, popsicle sticks mimic arthritis, rubber gloves reduce touch, popcorn kernels represent diabetic neuropathy, and special glasses demonstrate vision loss from conditions like macular degeneration or glaucoma.

The program also highlights taste changes that may lead older adults to add more salt or sugar, increasing health risks. Classes are offered in K–12 schools, Kansas 4-H programs, and local communities to promote awareness and encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

More information can be found at www.aging.k-state.edu/programs/grayforaday/grayforaday.html