Senior Expo Set for Nov. 8 in Jonesboro by UAMS Center on Aging-Northeast, Schmieding Program

By Ben Boulden

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 7001 E. Johnson Ave., seniors, their families and caregivers can learn from vendors and presentations about the resources available to them in the region. The event is being held during National Family Caregiver Month and a special presentation will held at 10:45 to recognize the “Caregiver of the Year.”

Flu shots will be available at no charge as well as free health screenings, dental screenings, demonstrations and breakout information sessions. A catfish lunch and bingo games will be provided.

Dozens of vendors with booths will present information about a range of services and organizations from Alzheimer’s programs, banking services and chiropractic care to estate and trust planning, financial and legal planning, senior housing and Medicare planning. A St. Bernards mobile mammography unit will be onsite.

“Our local community has so many valuable resources available to our aging population and we wanted to showcase them all under one roof,” said Senior Expo co-chair, Valerie Fielder, administrative coordinator at UAMS Center on Aging-Northeast. “Whether it’s learning more about advanced-care planning, long-term care or even home care, representatives will be available. Many seniors want to make sure they are prepared for this time of their life.”

Several community partners are co-sponsors of the event including St. Bernards Senior Services, Chad Oldham Law Firm, AllWell and Kindred at Home.

“At the Center on Aging-Northeast, we strive every day to help our senior adults live healthier lives, and this expo has proven to be an excellent way that we can reach our senior population,” said Samantha Hollis, Center on Aging program manager. “We all have grandparents, parents, friends and/or others in our lives who could benefit from the resources we will showcase all in one day.”

The UAMS Center on Aging-Northeast and Schmieding Home Caregiver Training in Jonesboro are programs of the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging in collaboration with St. Bernards Healthcare.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute and Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise including its hospital, regional clinics and clinics it operates or staffs in cooperation with other providers. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report named UAMS Medical Center the state’s Best Hospital; ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top 50 nationwide; and named six areas as high performing — cancer, colon cancer surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, knee replacement and lung cancer surgery. UAMS has 2,727 students, 870 medical residents and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.