Never mind that a wintry mix was falling outside, the “show” still went on Friday at Reeves Community Center in the form of a senior health fair.
Neither slow, sleet nor temperatures in the 20s deterred local residents’ quest for good health. Though some exhibitors didn’t attend and others departed early in response to the weather, there was no shortage of seniors wanting to take advantage of a variety of free screening services, samples and useful information.
At the halfway point of the event, about 100 people had made their way to the sixth-annual health fair, according to Fonda Mooney, family services director at the community center. As she spoke, more were heading into a lobby leading to the RCC gym where various stations were in place.
One participant was Rebecca Clark, 69, who stopped by a popular spot where RCC Health and Wellness Coordinator Bradley Key was conducting bioelectrical impedance analyses (BIA). To the layman, this meant he was determining the body mass index of those interested.
To take the test, a person is given a hand-held device that sends an electrical impulse throughout the body which gauges the percentage of his or her fat mass and lean mass.
“I learned that I need to do a little better,” Clark said after her analysis, “a little more work to get myself physically fit.”
Clark is already on the way to doing that, since she exercises regularly with a friend, Janice Gaither of Mount Airy, who also attended Friday’s health fair. Their regimen includes such activities as water aerobics.
“I got a whole lot of goodies in my bag,” Clark said of another benefit she realized from the event in addition to gaining helpful information. The latter includes home health services that are available to someone released from a hospital, which Clark said could benefit her if needed.
The purpose of Friday’s fair was to provide free services such as blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, balance and strength testing and blood sugar screenings — along with details on therapeutic and other programs of interest to the target group.
Preventative health practices also were emphasized, including a fitness-oriented station promoting the upcoming Yadkin Valley Senior Games manned by Celena Watson of Surry County Health and Nutrition Center. Watson also was giving out peppermint patties to anyone stopping there.
In addition, members of the Mount Airy Police Department were on hand to provide information about prescription drug dangers.
Reach Tom Joyce at 719-1924 or tjoyce@heartlandpublications.com.
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