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Senior Expo fills up

By R. R. Branstrom 3 min read

ESCANABA -- The 16th-annual Senior Expo brought close to 300 attendees to the Highland Golf Club yesterday. The event, organized by the Daily Press each autumn, serves to provide community members with information about how to navigate various aspects of growing older.

After picking up tickets for the event from the newspaper’s office at 600 Ludington St. over the past several weeks, guests arrived at the venue in Hyde bearing one shelf-stable food item each. The consumable donation, collected at the door for delivery to the Community Action Agency, was the only “admission fee” asked of attendees.

This year, 10 presentations featured at the expo.

– Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Andrew Pap from UP Health System discussed aortic stenosis and coronary disease management.

– Jennifer Piper, who works in regional sales at LakeHouse Senior Living, talked about “the right time to move” into an assisted facility.

– Primary care physician Dr. Matthew Rayeski, one of the newest team members at OSF St. Francis Hospital, spoke about arthritis and mobility.

– Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency Executive Director Gary Willoughby let attendees know what opportunities the agency offers.

– Mobility Manager Amy Fudala with the Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA) talked about how the local transport service allows seniors who no longer drive -- along with others -- to retain independence and stay connected.

– Attorney Jacob D. Lynch from Ryan & Lynch Law spoke about elder law.

– Meghan Richer from Taylor, Lord & Hughes Insurance Agency discussed Medicare, a topic some people had asked for at previous senior expos.

– Jeff Waeghe, Jenna Leisner, George VanDreel and Scott Streichert from Skradski Family Funeral Homes spoke about funeral pre-planning and the nuances of varying practices in different places.

– Gayle DeShambo, board president with the Delta County Cancer Alliance, talked a little about programs the organization conducts and fundraising.

– Dr. Christopher Blair, orthopedic surgeon new to OSF St. Francis Hospital after relocating from Texas, talked about the differences in injuries seen in rural areas versus those in cities, and the common types of physical trauma seen.

Attendees also were treated to a performance by the Remnants barbershop chorus, lunch served by the Highland, and were entered to win a number of door prizes.

Winners were drawn after most speakers, with nine prizes ultimately given away: four gift cards to Elmer’s County Market, four gift cards to T&T True Value Hardware, and one voucher for free golfing at the Highland.

Though people interesting in attending the expo were still inquiring about tickets this week, all 300 had been claimed prior to the event. About 30 tickets were unused and turned in to Daily Press staff on Tuesday by people who had reserved too many.

Still, the hall and secondary room were rather full for the 16th Senior Expo. People who’ve attended in the past may have remembered some of the speakers -- like the team from Skradski, who has been attending the annual event for years -- but were also given new information from first-time presenters like Richer, Pap and Blair.

Sponsors of the event -- including some that were not speakers, like Forever in Stone and Family Crest Living -- provided swag that was distributed to attendees in goodie bags.

The Senior Expo is one of a handful of events the Daily Press organizes; others include a cooking show and the U.P. Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo, which this year is scheduled for Nov. 6 and 7.

Starting at /week.