Both Turner and Butler spoke with guests encouraging everyone to
take advantage of the many tables filled with freebies and
information about services available to local seniors.
The annual event was a little different than in year’s past. At
previous fairs the booths included a number of health checks such as
blood pressure, cholesterol and bone density tests. Due to the
ongoing pandemic those health checks were eliminated.
The various organizations and health providers sharing information
about services for local senior citizens included:
Senator Turner, Silver Fox Fitness, The Epilepsy Foundation,
Christian Village, Vonderleith Living Center, Timber Creek Village,
Ep!c Host Homes, Copper Creek Cottages, Sugar Creek Alzheimer’s
Special Care Center, Kindred Hospice, Transitions Palliative Care,
Holland Barry Bennett Funeral Home, Memorial Health Systems, St.
Clara’s Rehab and Senior Care, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital,
Transition’s Health, Castle Manor Supportive Living, Illinois
Department on Aging, Illinois Home Care Ombudsman Program ( an IDOA
program).
Among the displays was a table and quilt stand set up by Kindred
Hospice. The quilts are donated to the hospice program by the
Quilter’s at Heart group from Lincoln and are given to hospice
patients.
Carla Ackerman with the Quilters at heart showed a quilt that would
be given to someone attending the health fair. The quilt was made by
Ackerman and donated to Kindred to be given away.
Around the corner, Lesleigh Bennett was set up at the table
representing her business. She had a flyer announcing that the
funeral home will be hosting a walk-in Covid-19 vaccine clinic on
Monday, October 11, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in conjunction with
the Illinois Department of Public Health. It will be the Pfizer-BioNTech
authorized for persons 12 years of age and older.
[to top of second
column] |
The Pfizer is a two-shot program and in the past week
it has been announced that there is also a booster-shot project for
eligible persons including seniors over 65, people 18 and older with
health issues, and frontline workers.
Bennett said that the booster is the same shot as the original, so
those needing first time inoculation or those needing a booster may
participate in the free clinic on the 11th.
Each table offered a number of free items including
candy and snacks, notepads, ink pens, coffee mugs and much more.
Each table also offered plenty of free information in the form of
flyers and brochures that guests could take home and read at their
convenience.
After touring the room, all guests were invited to cross over into
the community room at the Oasis for donuts and beverages.
Oasis Director Nancy Cunningham greeted visitors. This coming week
will be Cunningham’s last week at the Oasis. She is leaving her
position to take on a new role as an instructor at the Logan
Correction Center. She will be working with the female inmates on
life skills education preparing them for life outside of prison upon
their release.
She spent time on Saturday speaking with guests and friends who
wished her well on her future endeavor and said they would miss her
at the Oasis.
Cunningham said she would seriously miss her seniors and working at
the Oasis. She said that she felt she was leaving the organization
in better shape than she found it and is hoping the senior
organization will continue to thrive in Logan County.
The goal of holding a health fair like this is to bring local
seniors knowledge and understanding of what is available in the
community to help them maintain their independence and continue to
live well and healthy at home. For those who have reached the point
when care is needed, the fair also raised awareness of the many
services and facilities that are top notch alternatives for assisted
living.
Turner, Butler and Cunningham were pleased with the turnout and are
hopeful that the information provided will help local seniors
through the aging process.
[Nila Smith]
 |
