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05/06/2015 10:11 AMMadison residents of a certain age are invited to meet caregivers, sample treats, and hear pertinent speakers at the third annual Journey to Health and Wellness Fair on Thursday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Road.
The fair began three years ago, when Austin Hall took over as director of Senior Services. This year’s fair will feature more than 25 vendors, including representatives in senior care; retirement communities; assisted living facilities; home care agencies; Shoreline Aging in Place, which helps upgrade seniors’ homes to allow them to continue to live on their own; and Homestead, a senior housing development that will be opening on Boston Post Road.
Several members from the healthcare field will also have booths, including an audiologist, a massage therapist, a physical therapist, and a neuropsychologist, as well as representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and the local Agency on Aging.
“We give each visitor a passport, and the logo of every vendor is in there so when they visit the booths, the vendor signs off, and at the end, the passport is turned in as raffle ticket,” said Hall. “Each of the vendors provides a raffle prize. It’s a fun activity, and it’s great for the vendors, too.”
In addition to the vendors, there will be healthy snacks throughout the day and speakers. Audiology Concierge will discuss “The Link Between Dementia and Hearing Loss” at 11 a.m., the VNA will present “Do This, Not That: A Guide to Family Caregiving” at 1 p.m., and the Madison Police Department will discuss “Scams and Frauds” at 2 p.m.
“They’ll also bring the K9, which is always very popular,” said Hall.
The 2014 event drew more than 200 visitors, and Hall is hoping for an even bigger turnout this year. The free event is open to everyone, and registration is not necessary. Hall noted that several local senior centers will be bringing groups to the event and transportation is available, if needed, by calling the Senior Center.
“We always get rave reviews and the takeaway is some great information from great businesses,” said Hall. “Hopefully they take that home and use it in their daily lives to make their lives easier and educate themselves.”