The Upper Cumberland Area Agency on Aging and Disability (AAAD) invites seniors and caregivers from across the region to attend the 16th Annual Upper Cumberland Senior Expo on Thursday, October 19, 2017, from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion in Cookeville, Tenn.

Organized by the Upper Cumberland AAAD, the Senior Expo, brings businesses, service providers, seniors and caregivers together in a one-day networking event. Participants have the opportunity to gather resources from vendors, receive door prizes, and participate in hands-on educational activities.

Each year, the Senior Expo attracts hundreds of seniors and caregivers from all fourteen counties in the Upper Cumberland region, with optional transportation being coordinated at each county’s senior center.

“The Senior Expo is catered around the needs of the aging population and provides an excellent ‘one-stop-shop’ opportunity for participants to learn about resources right here in the region.” Clare Farless, AAAD Family Caregiver Manager said. “Not only is the expo educational, it’s also a lot of fun. Our sponsors really do an excellent job of getting into the festive theme and having fun with participants.”

This year’s expo is Halloween themed, with a costume contest for attendees and a booth decoration contest for the sponsors. All participants are encouraged to participate by dressing in tasteful Halloween costumes. Contest participants will be entered to win a prize.

Attendees can take advantage of free health screenings at the expo, including the Kidney Awareness Risk Evaluation (KARE) offered by the Tennessee Kidney Foundation. The KARE program is a free health screening that seeks to identify individuals at increased risk for kidney disease and encourage them to seek further evaluation and follow up with their physicians.

Putnam County Emergency Management Services will also be on-site providing information about Smart911. The program is designed to communicate key medical, household and location information connected to an individual’s mobile phone number to dispatchers and responders in the event of an emergency.

For the first time, the Senior Expo will include a car show. The car show is free to enter but participants must register in advance as spaces are limited.

“Our sponsors make the expo a valuable community event,” said Farless. “On behalf of the AAAD, we’d like to thank our corporate sponsors for making Senior Expo possible.”

Current Senior Expo corporate sponsors include Home Caregivers, Home Instead, Buckeye Home Medicare Equipment, Quality Private Duty Care, Quality Home Health, Putnam Sheriff Department, Putnam County Emergency Management Services (911), Putnam County Fire Department, Putnam County Emergency Management Agency, Saint Thomas Hospital, NHC HealthCare Cookeville, Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Wilson Bank & Trust, Heritage Pointe, Blue Coast Burrito, Rogers Group, StoneCom, Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency and Alzheimer’s Tennessee.

Organizers are still accepting corporate sponsors and booth sponsors for the event, as well as individuals and businesses to sponsor meals for the seniors in attendance.

Who should come to this event? Typically, seniors are the main participants but caregivers and other health care professionals are encouraged to attend, as well. Where else can you learn about resources that cover all 14 counties in the Upper Cumberland?

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, car show entries or for general expo inquires, please contact AAAD Family Caregiver Manager Clare Farless at 931-432-4111 or cfarless@ucdd.org.

The Area Agency on Aging and Disability(AAAD), a division of the Upper Cumberland Development District, connects older adults and adults with disabilities in the 14-county Upper Cumberland region with services and resources to improve their quality of life. Find AAAD on the web at www.ucdd.org and at facebook.com/UCDDconnect.

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Picture: Senior Expo Sponsors Prepare for Upcoming Event

Front row: Clare Farless AAAD, Family Caregiver Manager; Sara Martin, Home Instead, Home Care Consultant; Wanda Richardson, Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Business Development Manager

Back row: Nancy Hughes, Home Instead, Client Care Coordinator; Janie Pedigo, Wilson Bank & Trust, Marketing Assistant; Tracy Plant, Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Plateau Regional Director; Candie Power, Cumberland River Hospital, Marketing Director