Even longtime township residents may not be fully versed in the health services available to them. Bringing the information under one roof is the goal of this year’s Woolwich and Wellesley Adult Health Fair, the 21st annual iteration of which goes next Thursday, Oct. 21.
This year’s them is “Knowing Your Resources,” which focuses on improving the well-being of senior citizens in the region by boosting their knowledge of a wide range of resources that are available in the area.
“There’s a lot of health challenges we face as we age,” notes Marilyn Voisin, a member of the health fair planning committee. “There are a lot of agencies out there that provide a great deal of help and we have to know who those agencies are and how to approach them.”
The fair, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., features talks from a wide range of professionals, including Deb Schlichter, director of housing for Waterloo Region; Peter Scheuring from St. Jacobs Chiropractic Clinic; Raza Shah from St. Jacobs Naturopathic Clinic; and osteopath Paul Psutka.
There are other workshops throughout the day, including ones to help recognize the signs of depression, as well as exercises for seniors to not only keep their body healthy, but their minds alert too.
Voisin said that seniors can sometimes have difficulty finding out about the different agencies in the region and the services they provide, which is why the fair started more than 20 years ago.
Over two decades, attendance has been quite good for the event, Voisin noted. The numbers reached a peak of about 600 a few years ago, but for the past couple of years attendance has been steady at about 300. This year’s fair will be at Calvary United Church, 48 Hawkesville Rd. in St. Jacobs.
In addition to the talks and the displays, the fair also offers free massages and reflexology treatments, as well as blood-pressure readings.
“The nurses spend a little time with each person to discuss where they’re at with their blood pressure.”
Admission to the fair is free, and donations are accepted.
