Published August 7th, 2019
Speakers and expo lined up for 2019 Senior Symposium
By Pippa Fisher
Participants at a recent Senior Symposium Photo provided
With much attention being given to one of the city's objectives this year - that of senior inclusion - this year's Senior Symposium, hosted by the Lafayette Community Foundation, is as valued as ever. The event will be taking place, once again, at the easily accessible Acalanes High School on Aug. 10, from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

The free event, now in its 11th year, provides an educational program along with a vibrant expo loaded with vendors focused on the elder community.

"Our objective is announced in our tag line - Aging by Design - to provide lifestyle options to the elder age community and educate those that serve or assist that community," says Co-Chair Randall Whitney. "Our objective is obviously focused on the elder age community. However, we are beginning to attract the `sandwich' generation, which seeks information about their elder aging parent or friend needing services."

Whitney says it takes a small army of volunteers to put this annual event on, including this year help from the nonprofit mother-daughter National Charity League and local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. He credits the strong work of event chair Sereta Churchill along with emeritus board member Anne Grodin for her tenure supporting the event.

The symposium has grown over 11 years, both in numbers of attendees as well as sponsorship support. "We are so proud to have John Muir Health as a continuing Diamond Sponsor along with Kaiser and HCA as new Platinum Sponsors this year," says Whitney. Last year over 200 people attended, their largest ever event.

This year the event will cover topics such as "Cannabis - still uncharted territory" presented by Lawren Hicks, MD, a look at what is really known about medical marijuana. Lamorinda CERT Program Manager and Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission Chair Duncan Siebert will cover emergency preparedness. Oakwood Athletic Club Fitness Director Marie Puts will be talking about functional fitness and Jeffrey Dieden MD will be teaching how to recognize signs of stroke.

Along with the vendor resource fair there will be travel tips for seniors.

Although the event is free, online registration is required at the website below.

http://lafayettecf.org/2018-senior-symposium/

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