Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging Helping Sponsor Senior Health & Wellness Fair May 10

Approximately 45 resource booths will be available at a free Senior Health & Wellness Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, at the Greenwood Family YMCA.

Medical information, wellness tests, free resources, health demonstrations and more will be featured at the event sponsored by the Greenwood YMCA and the Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging (AAA).

The Abbeville Area Medical Center will be at the event administering COVID-19 vaccine shots and booster shots. The Abbeville Hospital will also conduct blood pressure screenings and foot tests.

Self Regional Healthcare will have a program on chest pains, strokes, heart attacks, how to identify them and what to do in case someone has symptoms. Self will also have a program on how to live your best life with cancer.

There will be no solicitation at the fair, said Brenda Minor from the Upper Savannah AAA staff who has helped spearhead organization of the event.

Seniors can ask questions, get business cards and contact agencies if they so choose. No one will be soliciting information from the seniors.

The 45-plus resource booths will include the Upper Savannah AAA, Greenwood YMCA, Department of Health and Human Services, Community Long-Term Care, GLEAMNS, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, senior centers, home health services, adult daycares, the Greenwood Soup Kitchen, the Food Bank of Greenwood County, United Way of the Lakelands, the Greater Greenwood United Ministries, Silver Sneakers, funeral homes, a mental health facility, Veteran’s Administration, senior apartments, credit union, Alzheimer’s Association and Parkinson’s Association. Representatives from U.S. Senator Tim Scott and State Rep. Jeff Duncan’s offices will also be providing information.

There will be various demonstrations including fall prevention exercises, arthritis relief and line dancing.

Minor said the event is coming at a good time with the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions easing.

“Three things that the AAA wants for the seniors is for them to be able to get out and socialize again,” Minor said, “we wanted them to know every resource available for their needs, and we want them to feel safe from solicitors and scammers.”

Edgefield Senior Citizens Council will have a Senior Day for their members only on May 12 and more senior health and wellness fairs will be planned for other counties across the Upper Savannah region.