Illinois Extension Launches New Program to Support Farm Families Coping with Dementia

With dementia rates rising among older agricultural workers, a new initiative aims to bridge a critical gap in rural caregiving and safety education. The University of Illinois Extension is offering a no-cost, research-based program, Farm Families Coping with Dementia (FFCD), tailored to support caregivers and family members of individuals living and working in farming communities who are experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline.

Developed through a collaboration between researchers at the University of Iowa (Kanika Arora)

and University of Illinois Chicago (Julie Bobit), FFCD was designed in partnership with farm families and Extension professionals to meet the specific needs of agricultural caregivers. The four-week online course features sessions on dementia basics, farm safety, intervention strategies, and caregiver support.

“There are many resources for general home or farm safety, but nothing that connects both to the

unique challenges faced by those caring for individuals with dementia in rural farming environments,” says Dr. Kanika Arora, Associate Professor at the University of Iowa and project lead.

The program is currently enrolling participants for its online Zoom sessions, beginning July 2025

(with a second cohort starting January 2026). Participants will be randomly assigned to a session group and asked to complete two short surveys, earning a total of $40. Optional in-depth interviews offer an additional $10 incentive. The program is backed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Adults age 18+ who are caregiving for a relative with dementia in a farming environment are

encouraged to participate.

Learn more and register at: go.illinois.edu/FFCP

Contact: Kanika Arora – 319-384-3817

Julie Bobitt – 312-355-0247