By Cathy Kimmel-Srock
Review Staff Writer
Whether you are of senior age yourself or have a family member of senior age, mark the 2016 Senior Living Expo & Beaumont Health Screening on your calendar for Aug. 24.
The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Orion Center features a ton of resources for seniors, as well as an array of free health screenings, according to Anna Marie Stuben, a Program Supervisor for the Community Programs Department who specializes in senior activities.
“Now that we are working with Beaumont, we thought we would tie it in with some free screenings,” she explained, noting they are offering things like vision screening to fall risk assessment to memory and depression screening and everything in between.
The lower level of the Orion Center will be denoted to these free screenings, plus they will also have vendors and other resources on site, and free food and giveaways.
For example, they will have an “Ask the Pharmacist” booth, where attendees can ask a pharmacist questions about their medicines.
“When you are standing in Meijer, there are six people in back of you and all of sudden you are nervous, so you aren’t going to ask those questions,” Stuben explained, saying that the expo is a great time for people to get a variety of information in a calm, low-pressure setting.
“It’s a nice friendly atmosphere,” she added. “We have things to eat. We have treats. We have great staff that are walking around to give you a hand.”
The expo will also feature information about insurance, senior housing and home care, health care, home medical equipment, sleep apnea, osteoporosis and diabetes.
“It’s everything from having fun and play to things you need everyday,” said Stuben.
Through a variety of partnerships, they have many resources for seniors available at the Orion Center periodically throughout the year, but this event brings all of that information together in one place for the community, according to Stuben.
“Oakland County has a ton of stuff for seniors, but if you are not looking for it, you wouldn’t know it was there,” she said. “Everybody comes together and it’s nice to double it up with the screenings.”
“It’s a ton of different things and where better to go when you can get it for free?” Stuben added.
According to Stuben, every vendor will have a giveaway and they will be doing raffles throughout the event. They will also have food and treats.
“Come on in,” she added. “It’s free.”
This is the 13th annual Senior Living Expo, according to Stuben, although it is normally held in May, but postponed until August this year due to the Orion Center closure from the flood. The Orion Center is located at 1335 Joslyn Road.
For more information about attending the event or registering for one of the few remaining vendor spots, visit oriontownship.org or contact Stuben at (248) 391-0304 ext. 301.