Senior Expo Attendance Breaks Records
Held October 22, 2015 at Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion, the Senior Expo brought in more than 950 seniors, caregivers and healthcare professionals, breaking attendance records of the past several years.
The Upper Cumberland Area Agency on Aging and Disability, a division of the Upper Cumberland Development District, has hosted the event yearly with the goal of connecting individuals with businesses and organizations in the region. From senior centers coordinating participant transportation with the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) to the host of vendors representing businesses throughout the Upper Cumberland, the Senior Expo was truly a regional event that could not be accomplished without the help of many.
“On behalf of AAAD, we would like to thank the vendors, sponsors, and volunteers who made the Senior Expo a fun and successful event for those in our region,” stated Clare Farless, AAAD Family Caregiver Manager.
“The Senior Expo is an educational event that seniors from all 14 counties look forward to each year. Overall, it’s a way for seniors to gather resources while socializing, mingling, and having fun. It’s like an educational field day.”
This year, vendors were encouraged to participate in the “Get Into the Act” themed booth decoration contest and involve participants in interactive activities at their booths. Awards for the most innovative booth were given to Buckeye and Quality as First Place Corporate Sponsor, Cumberland Regional Development Corporation as Runner Up Corporate Sponsor, Lifecare of Sparta as First Place Silver Sponsor and SunCrest Home Health as Runner Up Silver Sponsor.
“One goal is to make the expo intergenerational,” stated Ms. Farless, which is being accomplished by increasing the involvement of college students.
This year AAAD interns Nestor Chavez and Katie Cunningham from Tennessee Tech University’s Sociology department acted as co-chairs for the Senior Expo, which provided them the opportunity of organizing an educational community event.
Also, TTU’s College of Human Ecology Club assisted with Infinity’s Adult Day Services program that joined the Senior Expo for the day. Clients of the Adult Day Services program were able to participate in the brain stimulating Music and You class offered at the Senior Expo.
