Senior Connections and Kaiser Permanente Aim to Connect Seniors to Services

Senior Connections, a local non-profit organization providing home and community-based services to seniors in metro Atlanta and middle Georgia, in partnership with health coverage provider Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest healthcare providers in the United States, will host Senior Resource Fair 2016 on Thursday, 22 September 2016, from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at Porter Sandford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur. The event is free and open to all seniors, their families and caregivers.

The goal of the Senior Resource Fair is community awareness, educating the community of services, healthcare providers and resources available to residents of DeKalb and surrounding counties. There will be a special focus on those persons and families without healthcare insurance or prescription drug coverage, or with special healthcare needs, but the event is open to all persons interested in learning about general and specific healthcare and end-of-life issues which affect us all.

“We can empower seniors to be self-advocates by educating them on the resources and contacts available to them, many in their own communities,” said Debra Furtado, CEO of Senior Connections. “Whether in assisted living or living independently, knowing their options allows them to live full and safe lives.”

Scheduled to appear at the Senior Resources Fair are Jeanne Canavan, DeKalb County deputy chief assistant district attorney, who will speak on elder abuse; and Maureen Kelly, the business and community liaison for the aging division of the Atlanta Regional Commission, which is the Area Agency on Aging in the ten-county Atlanta region. DeKalb County Fire Rescue and its Public Education Unit will attend to talk about the S.O.S (Save Our Seniors) programs, and representatives from the DeKalb County Solicitor General’s office will be there to provide additional resource information on recognizing and addressing elder abuse.

A wide range of vendor exhibits will be onsite offering resources available to the senior community, including:

• Healthcare
• Tools for independent living
• Senior housing options
• Medicare/low income subsidy/extra held
• Living wills/final preparation
• Retirement/senior finances
• Services for blind and visually impaired

Participation by local senior care providers, community resource organizations, or other organizations with information or resources available to the general public is essential in making this event informative and successful.

The Senior Resources Fair will include entertainment, fitness demonstrations, physician talks, snacks, door prizes and lots more. The event will also serve as a conduit for attendees to schedule follow-up meetings and consultations.

“Many of us helping our senior family members are also at an age where we need to be cognizant of our own options as we plan for our later years,” said Furtado. “This fair will hopefully connect attendees with the resources we all need – now and in the future.”

Porter Sandford Performing Arts Center is located at 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur.

To learn more or register your organization for the 2016 Senior Resource Fair, please go online. The deadline for vendor registration is 9 September 2016. No pre-registration is required for attendees to the event; admission and parking is free.