MARCH/APRIL 2016
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: Meeting the Challenges &
Opportunities of Aging Conference
REGISTRATION FEE: $10
(Deadline is May 12)
WHEN: Friday, May 20, 2016 from
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Fayette
County Extension Office
(859) 257-5582
WHERE: Northeast Christian Church,
990 Star Shoot Parkway, Lexington
Agency on Aging, the extension
office, Lexington-Fayette Urban
County Government Aging Services Division, Accessible Home
Care and The Willows at Hamburg Health Center.
The day begins with a light
breakfast, which will be followed
by a keynote address given
by Joel Bennett with Lifeline
Home Care. At lunch, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray will
bring greetings and local radio
personality Jack Pattie will serve
as emcee. The schedule includes
speakers, exhibits, food, giveaways
and educational workshops. The
conference will also feature a
resource and benefits fair. Exhibitors will be on site all day to share
information about their programs
and services.
The workshops will emphasize
issues such as health and wellness, education, policy, fun things
for seniors to do and caregiving.
Workshop topics include The Humor of Aging, Gardening, Current
WEBSITE: challengesofaging.com
Events and other issues relevant to
seniors and caregivers. A representative from the police department
will talk about safety.
“A lot of the participants who
come to the conference are
women, and many are single,
whether they are widows or
divorced,” Jacobs said. “They live
alone, they’re out alone and safety
is a concern.”
Dr. Amy Hosier, the state specialist in Family Life Education at
the extension office and an assistant professor in Family Sciences
at the University of Kentucky, will
talk about writing a memoir, sharing tips for those who think they
would like to preserve their family
or personal history for posterity.
Back by popular demand will
be Joseph Bookwalter, executive
chef at the Lafayette Retirement
Community, who will discuss and
demonstrate Cooking for One and
the creative use of leftovers.
“We have access to a kitchen
and we’re bringing him back
because he was so popular,” Jacobs
said.
The goal of the Opportunities
and Challenges of Aging Conference is to encourage and enable
people age 55 and older to maintain an active and independent
lifestyle. There is always a variety
of vendors in attendance who are
happy to help attendees achieve
this goal by offering all sorts of
resources and products.
“We always have some home
health agencies and we have many
individual places that might cater
to the senior population,” Jacobs
said. “We have all sorts of different vendors and even some retail
stores come out and host a table.
Most of our vendors have items
that they raffle off at their table.
We have a lot of gift cards. There
are quite a few things we give away
and services from each of the
vendors.”
Recognizing that many people
in this demographic are active,
vibrant and dynamic, this year’s
15
conference will incorporate a
volunteer fair for the first time.
About 10 to 15 agencies from the
Lexington/Bluegrass region that
are currently in need of volunteers
will have booths and tables set up
to share information with conference attendees. The agencies’
representatives will describe the
different types of volunteer positions they offer. Individuals can
talk with agencies of their choi