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- Written by Megan Joyce Megan Joyce
The aisles inside York Expo Center’s Memorial Hall East were packed with baby boomers, seniors, and caregivers during the 14th annual York County 50plus EXPO on Sept. 28.
The free, one-day event, which provides information and resources for the area’s 50+ community, was presented by OLP Events, the events division of Central Pennsylvania-based On-Line Publishers, Inc.
More than 90 exhibitors displayed products and services for travel, housing, medical services, nutrition, home improvements, finances and healthcare.
“I just like to check out the different booths and see what they have going on,” Charla Zumbrun, of York, said. “And it’s always good; they always have good [exhibitors].”
The day began with the presentation of RSVP of the Capital Region’s Most Valuable Volunteer Award for York County.
Scott Hunsinger, York County development coordinator for RSVP, and Hannah McDonald, WGAL morning news anchor, presented the award to Howard Powell, of Dover.
Since August 2013, Powell has served as a reading tutor at Hanover Street Elementary School.
“I really enjoy helping the students at Hanover,” Powell said. “It’s a pleasure for me, and I’m glad I’m available and can pass on some knowledge to the youth of today.”
Kmart provided flu shots to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Health & Wellness Area, sponsored by WellSpan Health, included ongoing, free screenings for stroke risk, posture, blood pressure, joint pain, skin cancer, balance and more, as well as free seminars on treatment options for joint pain and exercises for bladder health.
Visitors also had the option of attending additional free seminars that covered Washington, D.C., and the elections; how to protect your assets from predators and creditors; “super smoothie” tips from a registered dietician; and treatment options for knee arthritis.
Plus, students from McCann School of Business and Technology offered free blood pressure checks and chair massages.
Falls Free York, an area dedicated to fall prevention, returned to the York County 50plus EXPO.
Organized by the York County Area Agency on Aging and local businesses and organizations, Falls Free York encouraged visitors to assess their own risk of falling and learn about falling hazards in the home.
Area staff offered gait/balance screenings, cane and walker checks, foot screenings, assistive-device demonstrations, and more.
“Our upbeat team shared information with 811 participants,” Diane Gerhart, administrative officer with the York County Area Agency on Aging, said. “Of that number, 427 actually filled out fall assessments, which showed 156, or 37.6 percent, at risk [for falling]. The day was excellent in every way.”
Richard List and his wife had both performed well on a balance test within the Falls Free York area.
“We stood on a cushion, and they were testing us with our eyes open and our eyes closed if we could stand still, and if not, [we] would be at risk for falling,” List, of York, said.
The day’s entertainment and presentations began with chair dancing with Holly Beebee of Dancin’ Chairs, LLC, and continued with advice on avoiding senior-targeted scams from Jerry Mitchell, education and outreach specialist at the Office of the Attorney General.
“A lot of these charities will prey on some sort of disaster ... the Boston [Marathon] bombing, for example,” Mitchell said. “Within five hours of that bombing, 439 websites went up. They’re trying to pull and pluck at the strings of your heart.
“Please do your homework before you give to any charity. If you want to know if a charity is good or not, please check with the Department of State.”
PK Dennis with York County Penn State Extension offered advice on container gardening; Navy Reserve retiree Ted Montesano performed patriotic and country keyboard music; and Pat Egger and Carol Lyons from the York County Area Agency on Aging’s APPRISE program provided tips for tackling Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period.
For more information on any of OLP Events’ 50plus EXPOs, call (717) 285-1350 or visit www.50plusExpoPA.com.