MELBOURNE — Forget what you think you know about senior expos, if you’ve never been to one hosted by Platinum Events & Expos, then you’re in for a real treat.
The Young @ Heart Senior Expo will not only bring you the latest information and resources relevant to your golden years, but there will also be tons of raffles, giveaways, door prizes, entertainment, refreshments, and fun with its Mardi Gras theme.
Stop by the free expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30 at Wickham Park Community Center, 2815 Leisure Way, Melbourne.
This is the first senior health expo of the year, and there’s no better time to dig into those healthy New Years resolutions than by checking out what resources can make your year great.
“We are focusing this year on lifestyle for seniors,” said Nina Verruso, expo organizer. “Even some of the Gen Xers are turning into seniors, so they’re more active, they’re more independent, and they’re even more hip than seniors have ever been, so we’re gearing the senior events to following that lifestyle.”
Attendees can learn what social groups, travel clubs, pickleball events and other activities they can join by talking to some of the vendors who will be tabling at the expo.
The key to good health is staying on top of it, and the Young @ Heart certainly provides the resources for attendees to keep up with it.
Free health screenings will be available to help you monitor your memory, hearing, blood pressure, cholesterol and more.
“Prevention is always the thing we recommend for seniors,” Verruso said. “Come take advantage of the resources that are available to you, we cannot say it enough. There are always new things available.”
Did you know, Verruso added, that more doctors are giving seniors an option to request a home visit instead of having them drive up to an office?
For example, a new resource added to Verruso’s senior expos is a mobile optician who seniors can talk to about making home visits.
“We’re trying to bring attention to different resources that were not available even last year,” Verruso said.
Returning resources such as the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to discuss the latest frauds and scams seniors should be on the lookout for, while services like Meals on Wheels will be on hand to promote its free programs.
Representatives for legal and financial organizations will save seniors time and frustration by being able to talk in person about what they’re eligible for, as well as to help book appointments.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you qualify for until you talk to someone,” Verruso said. “It’s easier to talk to someone in person than to navigate a website.”
Overall, Verruso hopes seniors will come and enjoy the festive atmosphere, donned in Mardi Gras outfits (the best dressed will win a prize at noon), and take advantage of everything being free.
“We’re not here to sell anything to you,” Verruso said. “Our mission is still the same: to empower seniors to have the information, resources, and tools that are local to them for a better quality of life.”
The following Mega Senior Expo will be a St. Patrick’s Day themed event and will be on March 12 at the Melbourne Auditorium.