Elder Care Fair a ‘one-stop shop’ for health-related services, resources for older residents
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — Sometimes the toughest part of getting information on the care of older adults is knowing where to find resources.
The Highland Lakes Health Partnership addresses that issue with its annual Elder Care Fair on April 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes, 1701 Broadway St. Admission is free for the event that features more than 50 booths with health-care and well-being information for both older adults and their caretakers.
“One of the most difficult issues elderly residents or their caregivers face is they don’t know where to find a lot of the resources available to them or even that those resources exist,” said Lynn Wisdom of HLHP and Seton Highland Lakes. “That’s one of the great things about the Elder Care Fair, all those resources are under one roof.”
People can gather information from the many booths, including Seton Highland Lakes, Scott & White Hospital-Llano, Cancer Care Centers of South Austin, Capital Area Parkinson’s Society, Hill Country Memorial Texas Hills Vascular Specialists and many others. While some of the exhibitors clearly address elderly health-care issues, some might not seem as relevant such as Harmony School of Creative Arts or ArtFrog Art Academy.
But more research is showing the importance of creative outlets such as music and art for the elderly, as well as all people.
Wisdom said the event includes several exhibitors offering free health screenings.
Most of it simply comes down to getting information in the hands people who need it. This includes the elderly, their children and their caregivers.
Adult children of older residents can learn a great deal about services available to their parents at the fair. Often the adult children are very involved in health decisions their parents make, officials said.
The HLHP is a nonprofit organization that focuses on health-related issues that impact area residents. Wisdom said the Elder Care Fair is one of the ways the group addresses its goals.
“The fair serves our mission very well,” she said. “It’s a one-stop shop for everybody who wants to learn about the services and resources available for the elderly and older adults.”
For more information on the fair or HLHP, go to www.highlandlakeshealthpartnership.org. You can also find more information about the fair and elderly health issue in the April 3 edition of The Picayune.
daniel@thepicayune.com