Senior expo spotlights health, finance issues

Elizabeth McLoud learns about telephone services from Arkansas Relay Services Friday morning, June 1, 2018, at the annual Senior Health and Wellness Expo. (Staff photo by Lori Dunn)
Elizabeth McLoud learns about telephone services from Arkansas Relay Services Friday morning, June 1, 2018, at the annual Senior Health and Wellness Expo. (Staff photo by Lori Dunn)

Lots of information on health, finance and other topics was available Friday at Texarkana's 19th annual Senior Health and Wellness Expo.

"I'm finding some good information. I've been looking for things like recipes and healthy living," Elizabeth McLoud said as she perused the vendors' booths.

The expo was held from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Texarkana, Texas, Convention Center on Cowhorn Creek.

The event is designed for people 50 and older. More than 60 vendors were available with health screenings, financial and legal information, travel information, insurance, health and other pertinent information. Games provided entertainment.

It is sponsored by Townsquare Media, Wadley Regional Medical Center, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, Active Age, Mike Gilliam Hearing Center, CHRISTUS Home Health, Kindred Health and Cigna.

"It's been very steady this morning," said Shelby Brown, marketing director for Wadley Hospital. "It seems like a lot of people have health-related questions, which is encouraging."

Many people were having their blood pressure checked at one of the Wadley booths and learning about heart health.

Wadley is presenting sponsor of the event.

"We are really excited to be here," Brown said.

The Wadley Scan van was in the parking lot for vascular screenings.

There was also a Lunch and Learn in the expo meeting room on "Basics of Long Term Care, Medicaid-Fact vs Rumor" with John Ross from Ross and Shoalmire Law Firm.

McLoud spent some time getting information from Arkansas Relay Services, which is a free telephone service for people who are hard of hearing or speech disabled.

It was not all serious, though. Participants could play Bingo at the Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Booth.

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