As a senior, I have become actively aware of Senior Resource Fairs. They come under the guise of such names as Fifty and Better Health Fair, Senior Resource Expo, and Empower Senior Citizens Resource Fair. The name doesn’t matter. The events share a common goal. Resource events are designed to promote the physical, mental, and social well-being of attendees. Flyers will beckon and lure you with phrases such as “Health! Strength! Wellness!” “Connections benefiting your body, mind, and soul!” and “Exciting activities!” No two events are exactly the same, but they all provide valuable information that makes navigating the demands of aging a bit easier. They are a place to gather information, ask questions, learn new skills, and connect.
In the last few years, I’ve made it a habit to attend senior-related resource fairs. I visited the Health & Wellness Fairs sponsored by the Tualatin Chamber of Commerce. They extended an invitation to “Meet and learn from SW Portland Practitioners!” While not promoted as a senior event, that seemed to be the primary group of attendees. There was a booth with a Medicare expert, and two of my girlfriends signed up for a consultation appointment. There was a senior real estate specialist, senior caregiver support, senior advisors, and more. My friends and I each had different needs, so we spent various amounts of time at each booth, enjoying the opportunity to ask the experts questions.
All fairs have a similar format. In general, the events are free. Vendor booths are set up around the room, and guests simply visit the displays that interest them. It’s low-key, and no pressure. If you like free swag, you might want to bring a bag. You’ll pick up so much candy that you’ll feel like you’ve been trick-or-treating. Chapstick, keychains, pens, and other goodies are also in abundance. Sometimes, attendees are given a “passport” or vendor list where they gather stamps or autographs from booths they visit. The passports are turned in and entered into a raffle.
It adds a bit of excitement to the whole affair. Who doesn’t enjoy winning prizes?
The benefit of these events is that they are well worth attending. Each fair has taught me something new and allowed me to interact with professionals. I’ve picked up business cards for specialists that I may need in the future. Additionally, as a senior, I’ve learned to keep an open mind to the emerging technologies that are becoming available to enable me to live my best life. One technology that fascinated me was a realistic-looking robotic cat designed for dementia patients. It is interactive, purrs and can make small movements. My thanks to all the companies who put on these special events that allow us all to enjoy socializing and learning about the latest trends, at their expense.
The City of Tualatin, The Tualatin Aging Taskforce, and SRES Ben Richardson of Ideal Real Estate are sponsoring a Senior Resource Fair at the Juanita Pohl Center on Saturday, March 29, from 1:00 – 4:00. There will be raffles, giveaways, and about forty vendors. The Red Cross, The Tualatin Coffee and Conversation Gals, Ride Connection, the Tualatin Aging Task Force, our local police dog Onyx, and others who serve the senior community will be represented. An added bonus will be a free jigsaw puzzle giveaway. Take as many as you’d like, and if you have some you’re done with, donate them to the table. I’ll be there, so if you see me, say hello, and if you hear of another local senior fair, please email me!
