The “Senior Expo” held in April was coordinated by the village and the Buffalo Grove Park District, and was billed as a “dynamic one-stop shop for seniors.”
Approximately 50 vendors and community representatives converged on the Community Arts Center on April 16 in the northwest suburb for the free event.
“I think it’s a great idea, very, very necessary for seniors,” said Gloria Tushbai, of Buffalo Grove, who attended.
Attendee Rhonda Cohn, of Buffalo Grove, said the expo showcased a number of services that seniors may not be aware are available to them.
The annual expo, with a history of approximately two decades, attracted 300 guests. As part of the expo, attendees received a complimentary lunch box.
The three hour event included raffles, and appearances by the Buffalo Grove police – with K-9 presence – and fire departments, as well as state motor vehicles services representatives.
“It’s really just about giving seniors an opportunity to support them and all these different things that are available to them; that they can come in and see all the things that they could utilize in the community,” said Diana Clayson, Park District superintendent of recreation.
“We have a community [with] lots of people that have lived here for a very long time, and we really appreciate their participation in the community and value their input as knowing the history,” Clayson said. “So the fact that we can bring in vendors to help them out makes our jobs worthwhile.”
Giveaways included lip balm, candy, bagged snacks, reusable bags and magnifying reader devices.
“The expo is wonderful, it gives you information that you might not be aware of, for different housing improvements, for medical things, it’s just a great opportunity to be aware of what the community can do for you,” said attendee Joan Rubin, who moved nearly three years ago from Northbrook to the Cambridge on the Lake condominium community in Buffalo Grove.
Rubin attended the expo with fellow neighbors from Cambridge on the Lake, including Lena Ellezian and Fariha De Francisco.
The three neighbors perused the Park District table. They learned that the Alcott Center is a gathering place for seniors and the Park District offers membership Club 50.
“I get the flyer in the mail and this way, I’ve got all the information for classes, drop in games … it’s a wonderful organization,” Rubin said about Park District senior programming.
This year was the first time Lena Ellezian attended the expo.
“It’s very informative,” Ellezian said.
Fariha De Francisco, who has lived in Buffalo Grove for five years, mentioned loving being a resident.
Nikhila Venu, of Lake Zurich, Ketan Patel, of Schaumburg, and Salomi Chintha, who lives in Des Plaines, staffed a table representing Care for Soul Inc. and sought to pub a “face with the name” as they told about the company’s in-home care services for the elderly.
“Not a lot of people are educated about in-home care services…so we want to educate them,” Chintha said.
Venu said often seniors don’t know what help they can get, including housekeeping and cooking.
“We are just introducing our services to them,” Venu said.
Representing the Vernon Area Public Library senior and homebound services was library associate Cheryl Silverstein.
“We are trying to reach out to the residents [letting them know] we are available to come to their home [if] they can’t come to the library,” said Silverstein. “We’ll come to you.”
Howard Hoffman, of Buffalo Grove, stopped by The Wealshire of Lincolnshire, a nursing care and senior assisted living facility, table. He serves on the board of directors of the nonprofit Friends of the Parks Foundation.
“Seniors have needs and the Senior Expo provides them the many needs, from home health care, assisted living, long-term and short-term care, as well as memory care,” Hoffman said.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.
