Annual senior expo is March 28

By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Whether they’re looking for a vacation within their capabilities or wondering how to keep their eyesight sharp, seniors can find answers to just about any question under one roof 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28.

The Clinton Township Senior Center and the Macomb Intermediate School District are hosting the fifth annual Macomb County Senior Wellness Expo, which is free and open to everyone. This year it’s being held at a new location, the MISD conference center on Garfield Road, south of Hall Road, in Clinton Township.

“The mission is for the health and wellness of the seniors, helping them facilitate their decisions and their actions,” said Debbie McClellan, Clinton Township’s assistant director of senior citizen services. “Seeing the support network they have out there might help.”

The expo usually draws a big crowd, but there’s room in the conference center to spread out. Parking is convenient and free, organizers said.

“We’ll probably have a total of 80 vendors,” McClellan said.

Every participating business and organization focuses on senior services. Vendors specialize in assisted living services, funeral services, senior travel, estate planning, financial services, insurance and head-to-toe health information.

St. John Health, a sponsor of the expo, will host two lectures during the event and offer free health screenings.

At 11 a.m., an occupational therapist will present “Let us help you see,” for seniors who have vision but are having difficulty performing daily activities. The seminar explains a process by which seniors can train their brain and eyes to use what vision is left, helping them regain independence.

“People have gone through this (process) and realized they can still do activities and even hobbies,” said Suzanne Povinelli, community nurse coordinator for St. John Health. 

The process involves a series of exercises and is covered by Medicare, Povinelli said.

At noon, St. John Health experts will talk to seniors about vestibular balance, or problems that cause light-headedness and dizziness. Balance testing will be provided.

“There are quite a few things that affect balance,” Povinelli said. The seminar includes information about fall safety.

St. John Health will also offer blood pressure screening and women’s bone density screenings. Seniors interested in the bone density screenings should wear socks that can be easily removed, as the screening involves an ultrasound of the heel or foot.

A pharmacist will be on hand to go over seniors’ different prescription medicines to watch for dangerous interactions.

“Seniors nowadays might be getting their drugs from more than one pharmacy,” Povinelli said, and some interactions can be overlooked. Seniors who are interested in that free service at the expo can bring in a list of all the medications they take, or bring in the actual prescriptions.

C & G Newspapers is a sponsor of the 2008 Macomb County Senior Wellness Expo.

The Macomb Intermediate School District conference center is located at 44001 Garfield Road, south of Hall Road, in Clinton Township.

No tickets are necessary. For more information about the event, call the Clinton Township Senior Center at (586) 286-9333.

You can reach Staff Writer Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com or at (586) 218-5006.