CONTRIBUTED BY CITY OF OPELIKA
OPELIKA —
The Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatics Center is hosting its 11th annual Senior Health and Resource Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 8 a.m. until noon. This health fair is free and open to the public and will provide access to numerous free services to adults ages 55 and older.
This event brings together service and resource providers so that seniors and their caregivers can gather information relevant to their current stage in life or plan for the future as they age. They can shop supplemental insurance providers, meet with local businesses and get blood work done all under one roof — instead of making multiple appointments and traveling to numerous offices over time.
“It is important for adults to feel empowered as they navigate the aging process,” said Valeri White, SportsPlex adult activities coordinator. “We want to give them the knowledge to advocate for their own needs and be aware of the resources our community has available to them.”
This year’s event will provide a multitude of on-site free services for seniors including:
• The Southern Union State Community College Nursing Program will be performing blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol checks and hemoglobin screenings.
• Auburn University Nursing School will help understand results.
• The East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) Cancer Center will be doing men’s Prostrate-Specific Antigen (PSA) bloodwork to screen for prostate cancer.
• The Lions Club will provide vision screenings to look for potential vision loss and eye disorders.
• Bubba’s Medicine Shop will be providing flu shots.
• Lee Russell Council of Governments will offer dementia screening.
• Lee County Sherriff’s Department will register participants for the Yellow Dot Program.
• Better Bodies Massage will be doing chair massages.
This year’s health and resource fair will also provide a wide variety of vendors that will help educate seniors and allow them to shop for providers at one location. This year’s health fair will feature:
• Home health providers
• Assisted living providers
• Hospice care providers
• Insurance providers
• Healthcare providers
• Vision providers
• Rehabilitation providers
• Community health resources
• Advocacy groups
• Volunteer opportunities
This year’s health fair is supported by the Opelika City Council and The Observer.