March 28, 2024

Senior Health Fair at YMCA keeps services local

Tables lined the YMCA basketball court and the sound of conversation filled the air as the Newton YMCA hosted its 25th annual Senior Health and Fitness Fair.

Lucas Hughes, Senior Health Fair member engagement director, said this year saw 27 vendors participate, up from last year. Hughes said the criteria for a vendor is focused on one thing — is the company or organization engaged with the senior community in Newton.

There were assisted living communities, in-home respite and nursing care, Skiff Medical Center and physical therapy offices, among others.

“It is important for the area demographics,” Hughes said. “(Newton’s) senior population is 30 percent. This is the one time of year to run a senior wellness fair.”

There was even a raffle for the fair-goers. The two big prizes were a Fitbit and a Kindle.

Hughes said there were roughly 150 to 200 people in attendance. Set up fell to a committee of 10, which included Hughes and other vendor recruiters.

Hannah Bartlett also works at the YMCA as the croup fitness coordinator and was part of the fair planning committee. This was her first time working on the fair and she said she would be working on it next year, as well. She said the criteria for finding vendors was easy.

“Somebody who is targeting seniors is all we are looking for,” Bartlett said.

Vendors like Laura Essen and Jeff Wisnieski of Newton Village Living Center and Home Instead Senior Care said they were glad they came.

Essen said she was handing out information to passersby about the services they offer which include free bathroom safety assessments.

“It’s just to let the community know what is available and we can support people in many different areas where they need help,” Essen said.

Attendee Jackie Longdin was not looking for anything specific when she walked into the fair and started walking from table to table. Longdin said the reason she hit the fair is she’s at the age where she will be taking advantage of the services these organizations had to offer.

“I’m looking to see what is in town because I don’t want to go out of town,” she said.

Contact Samuel Nusbaum at
641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or at
snusbaum@newtondailynews.com.