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"The purpose of the expo is to help educate the public on what is available for senior care and what resources are available for seniors," said Lisa Roti of Home Instead Senior Care and the Senior Networking Alliance. "The event is for seniors, but it is also for decision makers, children and anyone involved with senior issues. They can come out and learn about things that maybe they don't need today, but they may need in the future."
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for the event, which features more than 20 vendors, three breakout sessions, appointments with area pharmacists and physical therapists, and lunch.
Vendors include WEL-Life, Gentiva Health Services, Keelson Harbour, Alzheimer's Association, Lake Park Care Center, Lewis Family Drug, Lakes Homecare Companion, Heritage Landing, Hilltop Care Center, Lakes Regional Healthcare Homecare/Hospice, Turner Funeral Homes, Sanford Home Medical Equipment, Milford Nursing Center, Erpelding Voigt & Co. LLP CPA, Dickinson County Public Health, Home Instead Senior Care, NW Aging Association, Iowa Hospice, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Dickinson County Veterans Association, Med-Equip and Hometown Mobility.
Three breakout sessions are planned throughout the morning. At 9 a.m., attendees can learn about taking medicines safely. A 10 a.m. presentation will discuss prescription drug insurance information, and at 11 a.m. Stein Law Office will discuss advance directives.
"In addition to the break out sessions, we also have a pharmacist from Lewis Family Drug available to review seniors' medications and area physical therapists who will speak with seniors if they have concerns," said Roti.
The event wraps up with a lunch prepared by the Dickinson County Cattleman's Association from 11:30 - 1 p.m. Cost for lunch will be $5, and proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
Expo planning
Roti hatched the idea of having a senior health expo about a year ago, and the Senior Networking Alliance has taken flight with the planning process.
"We have excellent senior care providers here," said Roti. "I had attended a senior health fair in Spencer in 2008 and thought we should have an event here... I could not have done it without this extraordinary group of people."
The alliance is a fairly new organization itself, featuring an array of organizations and businesses from nursing centers to CPAs to pharmacies. The group is open to anyone involved with seniors.
Anticipating a successful first year, Roti and the alliance expect the Senior Health Expo will again be on the calendar for 2010.
"We hope the event is well received and will become an annual event," she said. "We know that the senior population is growing and the need will continue to increase."
Dickinson County Senior Health Expo
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 3
Spirit Lake Senior Center
Breakout sessions
9 a.m. - Poison Control-Medicine Management
10 a.m.- Medicare Part D
11 a.m. - Advanced Directives
Throughout the day, there will be entertainment, opportunities to talk with pharmacists and physical therapy advice.