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The Wellness Expo is co-sponsored by Logan County Department of
Public Health and ALMH Community Health Collaborative, as well as
the Park District As in past years, each group had several
exhibitors providing information on health and wellness resources in
addition to strategies for healthy living.
As guests walked in the front door, they were given a bag to hold
the goodies handed out by vendors and a sheet with trivia questions
to answer and turn in for a prize.
With 72 vendors, there were resources for people of all ages.
As in previous years, there were health screenings for blood
pressure, cholesterol, blood typing, and more.
Healthy eating is an important part of wellness and there were three
cooking demonstrations using healthier ingredients. For example
Heather Cosby, owner of Flossie’s and Delzena’s Gourmet Grind &
Gifts, prepared a ‘faux-tato salad' using cauliflower in place of
potatoes, and guests were able to sample the finished product.
A kids’ cooking demonstration showed kids how to make healthy snacks
and gave them a chance to try healthy food such as homemade granola
mixes and kale chips.
To burn off some energy and get exercise, kids could bounce, jump,
play, and crawl around in one of the large inflatables.
There are many resources for seniors in the county, whether it be
home health care, assisted living, or nursing home care.
Representatives from the Christian Village/Christian Horizons,
Timber Creek Village, Copper Creek Cottages, St. Clara’s Manor, and
Generations were there to share what they can provide for seniors
who can no longer live independently.
Other resources geared toward seniors included the Oasis Senior
Center, Community Action’s Senior Nutrition Program, Audibel, and
the Alzheimer’s Association.
Making it easier to keep loved ones at home are Memorial Home Care
Services, Carelink, and Lifeline.
For those dealing with cancer, the SIU School of Medicine Simmons
Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society can help.
Providing help for addictions are places like the Tazwood Center,
Chestnut Health Systems, and Illinois Helpline.
Some of the other organizations providing resources in times of need
are the Salvation Army, the Pregnancy Resource Center, Resilient
Cleaning, and the Logan County Humane Society.
Answering questions about insurance needs were representatives from
Health Alliance, Meridian, Illini Care Health, and Blue Cross/Blue
Shield.
Several groups and small businesses had supplements, essential oils,
skincare products, and even cleaning products for maintaining a
healthy lifestyle.
One new vendor this year, Wink Natural, offers probiotics, prenatal
supplements, lotions, and other all-natural products for stress
relief, sleep and anxiety.
ALMH had exhibitors from various departments that included rehab,
sports care, and diabetes management education.
There were also a couple new ALMH exhibitors this year. ALMH Echo
technicians Tonya Matthews and Amanda Pollice provided information
about Echocardiograms. Echocardiograms, or Echos, are tests that use
an ultrasound with high frequency sound waves to make pictures of
the heart’s chambers, valves, walls, and blood vessels.
Matthews and Pollice use a new up-to-date machine for the tests,
which doctors review to check the heart function and see if there
are any heart problems.
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Eddie Smith, Lead Technologist at ALMH’s Sleep Center, tests people
for sleep apnea, a sleep disorder affecting 20 million Americans by
interrupting their sleep.
Warning signs and symptoms include loud snoring, gasping or choking
during sleep, morning headaches or grogginess, excessive daytime
fatigue, and depression and irritability.
Sleep apnea puts people at risk for developing a
variety of conditions, but special dental appliances or Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines increase the air pressure
in your throat so your airway does not collapse when you breathe in.
Juliann Papesch of Schneider Chiropractic had resources for those
seeking chiropractic care. She had a list with five phases of
chiropractic care:
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Wellness care for those wanting to be at their “best.”
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Maintenance care to prevent “future problems” and keep “old ones
from returning.”
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Supportive care to people maintain their “progress” through
“continuing care.”
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Corrective care to fix “spinal dysfunction” and retrain
“muscular weaknesses.”
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Pain relief to help people become “pain free as quickly as
possible.”
Hot tubs may also provide pain relief and Andrew
Gonzalez of P and W Pools and Spas, along with Nathan Whiteman,
brought in a Tuff Hot tub/Spa and had handouts showing how spas
relieve stress of the mind and body by reducing pain.
In addition, Spas can lower blood pressure, boost digestion and
weight loss, increase blood circulation in affected areas of the
back, improve blood flow to sore muscles and joints, relieve
arthritis symptoms, and reduce nerve pain in the feet.
To provide awareness about another health issue, Kimberly Janssen of
the Epilepsy Foundation shared facts about what epilepsy is, what
causes it, who has it, and how it is diagnosed and treated. Janssen
said the Epilepsy Foundation advocates, educates, and does case
management for those who have epileptic seizures.
Erin Domonousky, medical and legal advocate for the Prairie Center
for Sexual Assault, works out of the Taylorville office, which
serves Logan County and several other counties.
Domonousky said the center offers free services, counseling,
advocacy, professional training, crisis services for recent victims
and adult survivors of sexual assault. They also have a 24-hour
hotline.
Moms Who Care is a recently created non-profit group that started in
Lincoln in 2017 and collects donations of school supplies, healthy
snacks, hygiene products, and clothing from the community and take
them to LCHS and LJHS every Thursday.
Students referred by the school nurse, counselors, teachers, or
office staff “shop” for the items, which are placed in a gift bag.
Financial donations are used for lunch money, graduation items,
shoes, and other essential items. This program is about helping with
self-esteem and improving graduation rates.
At the Wellness Expo, adults and children had an opportunity to talk
to these and in all over 70 exhibitors and vendors to learn about
many different health and wellness resources right here in Logan
County.
[Photos by Mitch Douglas] |
