Hundreds pack Harrah’s for ‘Celebrate Age’ senior living expo
CHESTER » More 500 people streamed into the 2018 Senior Living Expo at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack Friday. Sponsored by Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), the free half-day event featured useful information and resources, demonstrations, entertainment and giveaways.
“This is a wonderful event,” gushed Mary Glover of Glenolden, who attended with her daughter, Wilhemina Powell, also a resident of Glenolden. She spoke as she carefully picked out which silly props that she wanted to wear in the complimentary photos offered by Pro Click Photography at the entrance to the expo. “My daughter is here for the very first time, but I come every year. It’s just a nice day of friendship and camaraderie, a day of all nationalities where everyone gets along and learns some new things. I like people and this expo always has the nicest people.”
The senior expo is held every year during May, “Older Americans Month.” This year’s theme, “Engage at Every Age,” emphasizes that no one is too old, or too young, to take part in activities that can enrich their physical, mental and emotional well-being. Dozens of vendors at the expo spotlighted the theme in their services and products, including home care agencies, physical therapists, nursing homes and life care communities, insurance carriers, government agencies, hospitals, and health care systems. Seniors visited vendors’ tables to speak with company and agency representatives and pick up valuable resources and freebie incentives. Tables offered wheels to spin, CPR demonstrations, raffles, information, snacks, small giveaways and much more. A county-sponsored medicine drop-off was also available for attendees to dispose of unused medications in their homes. Many people at the expo listened or danced to sounds by DJ Joe Foley of Schaffer Sound Productions. Others dancercised with Zumba instructor Lavinia Ferguson.
Friends Lucy DeMeis of Boothwyn, Roberta Ferris of Aston, Jody Pokoy of Aston, Comfort Jones of Aldan, Donna Rottenberk of Aston and Dottie Batter of Aston take weekly Zumba classes led by Ferguson at the Aston Community Center. Ferguson told them that she would be leading Zumba dancing at the expo so the group of friends decided to come and check it out.
“We came for the Zumba, but we loved getting all the free stuff,” Pokoy stated, laughing while gesturing toward her friends who were laden with goodie bags full of incentives.
“This is an especially energetic crowd this year,” smiled Kim McDaniel, director of Schoolhouse Senior Center in Folsom, who added that Schoolhouse received more than 500 entries on a basket of wine that was chanced off near the expo’s ending. “Today has been very successful.”
Seniors could stop by a special booth to play Wii Bowling and sign up for the Delaware County Senior Games. The annual games will take place June 11-22. Sign-ups will take place all month at www.DelcoSeniorGames.org or by calling 610-891-4663. In keeping with the “Engage at Any Age” theme, seniors will have an opportunity to compete in billiards, bocce, bowling, Wii Bowling, swimming, horseshoes, shuffleboard, golf, mini golf, track and field, table tennis, pickleball and shuffleboard.
This year’s Senior Living Expo sponsors included Main Line Health, Sweet Home Healthcare, Always Best Care, Connect One Heatlh, Independence Blue Cross, UPMC Health Plan, Jevs At Home, Victoria’s Home Care, Bayada, Home Helpers, and Aetna.
Other vendors included J.Nelson Rigby Funeral Home, White Horse Village, Elwyn Specialty Care, Amramp, Home Smart, Riddle Village, Delaware County Senior Games, Anderson Elder Law, Main Line Senior Care Alliance, Rosemont Life Community, Broomall Eye Care, Pennsylvania Agency of Nurses, Asana Hospice & Palliative Care, Community Transit, Senior Community Services, West Laurel Hill, Crozer Keystone Center for Geriatric Medicine, Acorn Stairlifts, Surrey Services for Seniors, RSVP, Granny’s Helping Hands, Kind-Hearted Care, Fernwood Cemetery and Mausoleum, DeFino Law Associates, Broomall Presbyterian Life Community, Touching Hearts, Sharon Goodspeed, Fair Acres Geriatric Center, Broomall Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and more.
“This year’s Senior Living Expo has been our biggest year ever,” stated Barbara Nicolardi of COSA, who plans the event each year. “We had great weather, great vendors, great activities and lots of great people who came out to take advantage of this annual opportunity. All of this greatness put together made it a banner event!”