Jordan Beck | Daily Press Attendees of the 10th annual Daily Press Senior Expo are pictured. The event was held at the Terrace Bay Hotel in Gladstone Tuesday.

GLADSTONE — About 350 area seniors were able to learn about a wide variety of topics relevant to their lives during the 10th annual Daily Press Senior Expo. The event took place at the Terrace Bay Hotel Tuesday.

“(It) looks like everybody showed up that grabbed a ticket,” Daily Press Advertising Representative Sarah Maki said.

The main goal of the Senior Expo is to provide information to seniors living in the area.

“It’s a good resource for them as they age,” Maki said.

Maki said the Senior Expo has “always” been held at the Terrace Bay Hotel. She also noted the venue has proven to be ideal for the event.

“The Terrace is very easy to work with,” she said.

A total of nine businesses and organizations were represented by speakers during this year’s Senior Expo. At the start of the event, attendees heard from Garceau Insurance Agency Life and Health Agent Margo Gobert-Vargo.

“I spoke about … Medicare Parts A and B, then spoke about Medigap policies and then your Part D prescription drug coverage,” Gobert-Vargo said.

Gobert-Vargo returned to 2019’s expo after making her first appearance at the event in 2018.

“I think it’s very educational, and it gives seniors a lot of information they can utilize,” she said of the Senior Expo.

Scott Brogan, partner of the Law Office of Brogan & Yonkers, went on to discuss another Medicare-related topic.

“It was talking about using Medicare to cover the short-term costs of nursing homes,” he said about his presentation.

This year marked Brogan’s second appearance at the Senior Expo.

“I think it’s great to get seniors together to be able to share information with them,” he said.

Some businesses and organizations with speakers at the Senior Expo this year were newcomers to the event — including Superior Foot & Ankle Centers, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Conway McLean spoke about senior fitness and how seniors can develop a walking program during his presentation.

“As we age, time has a harmful effect on our health, and we can combat some of those changes by getting fit,” McLean said.

He also emphasized the important role nutrition plays in seniors’ lives.

McLean said he was surprised by the size of the Senior Expo.

“I wasn’t expecting this many people — big group,” he said.

Later, Executive Director of the Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA) John Stapleton spoke. Stapleton said he has been attending the Senior Expo for at least five years.

“It’s a great opportunity to talk to local seniors — it’s not the same people every year,” he said.

As a regular Senior Expo participant, Stapleton said he tries to “mix things up” with his annual presentations.

“I wanted to talk a little bit more about ‘aging in place,'” he said of his presentation for 2019.

Stapleton went on to say this term refers to services that can help people continue to live in their homes as they grow older.

Representatives of Valley Med Flight/AirMedCare Network, OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Skradski Family Funeral Homes and UP Health Systems Home Care & Hospice also shared information at this year’s Senior Expo.

The event was emceed by Peggy O’Connell, owner of local businesses Positively! and SignUP. O’Connell said she was glad to be involved with the Senior Expo.

“I love being part of it — I love talking to people and keeping the show moving,” she said, also noting she enjoyed “throwing a little humor in” by telling jokes during the event.

Escanaba resident Joe Crispigna — one of the many attendees of this year’s Senior Expo — said he had attended these events in the past.

“When I go to these, if I pick up one thing, it’s worth coming,” he said.

One of Crispigna’s favorite presentations at this year’s Senior Expo was given by Stapleton.

“I was not aware of some of what they’re doing,” Crispigna said of DATA’s services.

Eileen Demeuse, of Gladstone, said she learned a great deal at the Senior Expo.

“I think it’s very informative,” she said.

She added she had liked all of the presentations at the event.

“I’ve really enjoyed listening to all of them,” Demeuse said.