Bourbon County, Business, Exercise, Health Care, Housing, K-State Extension

Aging With Attitude

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Expo attendees moved around to the vendor’s tables before the first whole group educational panel discussion on the opioid crisis.

Aging with Attitude Regional Expo filled the gym of Community Christian Church on Friday to hear breakout speakers on the opioid crisis, scams against senior citizens, life with partial sight, veteran’s benefits, gardening, farm families in tough times, and getting beyond superficial conversations.

Aaron and Lindsay Watts, Smallville Crossfit owners, facing the camera, lead the group in exercises.

Aaron and Lindsay Watts, owners of Smallville Crossfit, Fort Scott, demonstrated exercises that can even be done from a chair.

Patty LaRoche gave an inspirational speech on “What Matters Most.”

There are four components of aging to find contentment, she said, which include physical, mental, emotional and spiritual issues. She listed humorous and contemplative examples of each component.

Patty LaRoche

And door prizes galore were handed to attendees by vendors, businesses and organizations.

Resource fair vendors were Girard Medical Center, K-State Extension, Hometown Health Care, Moore-Few Care Center, Arrowood Lane Residential Care, Kansas Agricultural Medication Services, Heritage Health Care, Medicalodges Fort Scott, Southeast Kansas Library System, Integrity Home Care and Hospice, Presbyterian Village, Resource Center for Independent Living, State Farm Insurance, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, Angels Care Home Health, Ascension Via Christi, SKIL Resource Center and Kansas AgrAbility.

A panel session on the opioid crisis was composed of,  from left facing camera: Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, Pharmacist Craig Campbell, Community Health Center Peer Mentor Heather Burns, Community Health Center Addiction Treatment Amy Phillips, and Fort Scott Police Department Chief Travis Shelton. Moderator is K-State Extension Agent Joy Miller at right.
Ginger Nance and Becky Kellum, Presbyterian Village personnel, visit with a person at their booth.
State Farm Insurance Agent Kale Nelson visits with an attendee.
Denise Groene, director of Wichita Better Business Bureau, leads the session entitled “Scams Against Seniors.”
LaShawn Noel, a social worker with Integrity Home Care and Hospice, leads a session on “Getting Beyond ‘I’m Fine'”.
“Helping You and Your Family Through a Tough Farm Economy,” was a session led by Char Henton, Forrest Buhler and Gary Kepka from Kansas Agricultural Medication Services.
Veteran Services Representative Ryon Knop leads the session “Veteran’s Benefits for Spouse and Dependents.”
“Living a Full Life with Partial Sight” was a session led by Southeast Kansas Library Special Needs Consultant Melissa Frantz and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist Amanda Smith.
K-State Horticulture Agent Krista Harding leads the session “Garden At Any Age.”
Pharmacist Craig Campbell leads an expanded session on the opioid crisis.

Additional support for the expo was provided by Community Christian Church, Dale and Betty Johnson, Cheney Witt Funeral Home.

Helping with introducing the speakers were 15 Fort Scott Community College Ambassadors, with help serving the meal provided by Fort Scott Community College Volleyball Students.

A grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas helped support this expo event.

 

 

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