Hundreds of area senior citizens poured into the Jackson Police Training Academy Wednesday morning for the 16th Annual Senior Health and Wellness Fair from 9 a.m. until Noon.
The event was sponsored by the City of Jackson Department of Human & Cultural Senior Services Division, Harvey Johnson Jr., mayor; St. Dominic’s Community Health Services, Inc., Sister Mary Dorethea Sondgeroth, president; and BankPlus.
“We had to move the health fair to a bigger place this year, because it is growing,” said one of the staffers at the St. Dominic information table.
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said the city is extremely committed to its seniors. “We are happy to have so many partners to come together for our senior citizens,” he said. “We look forward to expanding our seniors program. We thank so many people for coming out.”
Free health screenings included cholesterol and glucose, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) bone density, flu and pneumonia shots, oral screening, vision screening and a myriad of health care information.
Door prizes were given away. News Anchor Brad McMullan at WAPT-TV16 was a celebrity guest.
Healthcare screenings and health information booths were not the only activities at the wellness fair. As individuals among the crowd waited for their numbers to be called for various screening, they were entertained with a “Latin Dance” by the Silver Sneakers of the Downtown YMCA.
Silver Sneakers is considered the nation’s leading fitness program for older adults. Oletha Roberts, 78, of Jackson has been a member of Silver Sneakers for two years. Asked how she could move as well as she did on stage at 78, she responded, “I just exercise everyday. You got to get with it! Don’t die until you’re dead,” Roberts laughingly said with her hands on her hips moving them from side to side.
For more information on Silver Sneakers, log on to www.silversneakers.com.
Be the first to comment