Seniors Find Help in Housing, Health at Showcase

Cora Uceda and her husband came to the Senior Showcase on Tuesday on a recommendation from their daughter.

"We're getting older, and we need to know about the things you have to offer for seniors," Uceda said.

The Senior Showcase at the Adult Activity Center at North Park on May 10 provided people age 50 and older information on what they need in this stage of their lives.

"There are so many things that are important to seniors," she said. "Where to live. You have a large house, you want to go to a smaller one, but we don't know where. We're trying to find out where and how and when. That's important for us right now."

Lewis Lay, one of the three coordinators of the showcase, said it included services offered to seniors.

"We've got anywhere from travel companies, elevators for their homes, how to live easier in their homes, how to stay longer in their homes," Lay said.

"We have assisted living places that are here, and independent living places, insurance people, long-term care insurance, nursing home insurance," she said. "Walgreens is here, Juice Plus is here, there are a lot of people doing different things that are here, so it kind of covers a little bit of everything, and hopefully the seniors will get some information and enjoy."

The concern of where to live made by the Ucedas was echoed in comments by many other seniors. Molly Manley said that she was very fortunate to have a son who found a home for her. She resides in an assisted living center, and her son is only a block away from her to help her whenever she needs it.

Another one of the biggest concerns facing the seniors was nutrition and health. Uceda said that her husband's health was suffering and that she was primarily interested in the Juice Plus booth. The vendor of Juice Plus, a senior herself, emphasized that nutrition was the greatest issue people her age were facing. She explained that as they age, their stomach acid becomes weaker, and they breakdown proteins more slowly, and it is harder to get the nutrition that they need.

Deborah Robbins of Dignity Memorial was the only person representing a funeral and memorial service planner. She said that even though no one likes to talk about death, it is important to plan out the necessary arrangements ahead of time so that grieving family members are not left with the responsibility at a short notice.

Some seniors, including Manley, were spending as much time walking and socializing with the other seniors as they were learning about the different services offered.

Sandy Munoz was playing cards in the building and came by to see what the showcase was about.

Dick Baumgardner was very adamant in saying that the biggest concern facing seniors was not where to live, health, or even funeral arrangements, but was, "Idleness. Failure to socialize and get out."