Topeka ? Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson has named Martin Kennedy to be the acting secretary on aging.

Kennedy has been with the department since 2004 and serving as interim agency secretary since June.

During Wednesday’s announcement, Kennedy and Parkinson said the growing aging population would pose challenges to the state in the coming years, forcing creative means for providing health care services.

Kennedy says one solution is increasing access to telemedicine, which could keep the elderly in their homes longer.

Former Secretary Kathy Greenlee left the job for an appointment as assistant U.S. secretary for aging in the Department of Health and Human Services. The federal agency has been led by former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius since April.