Largest senior health expo returns to town after 8 years
'I think this is great. It lets people know what's available to the community.' - Martha Whelchel
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers HEALTHY ATTITUDE- Ventura resident Richard Sager gets his blood sugar checked by volunteer nurse and Newbury Park resident Haru Matsuura on Wed., Nov. 14 at a Senior Expo held at the Camarillo Community Center.

Jean Culver looked outside her window . . . and that made her day.

Culver saw the people and the commotion of tents going up at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District's Community Center on Burnley Street in Camarillo, and she just had to take a closer look.

Culver attended the Ventura County Senior Expo, the first event of its magnitude in the county since 1999. At the senior expo Wednesday, visitors had a chance to visit 76 vendor booths, get flu shots, attend exercise demonstrations and eat lunch, all for a $5 entrance fee. Midway through the event, 200 people had entered the expo and around 500 were expected to attend.

"We haven't done it for a number of years and the idea was to get one back in Ventura County," said Sharon Brick, chairperson for the expo who works for MediTech Health Services, Inc. "It's been long overdue."

Seven exhibitors conducted free health screenings, including a blood sugar screening, a spinal evaluation, blood pressure exam and a stroke screening that tested for corroded arteries.

A Boston native, Culver attended the expo with her sister, Barbara Bauman, who also lives in Camarillo. Although Culver had her flu shot at her doctor's office earlier in the year, she still found the expo informative.

"Personally, I think this is wonderful," Culver said. "My sister's here to get a flu shot. I'm here in case she faints."

Bill Pyle of Ventura was busy exploring the different booths, although he wasn't there due to the affordable flu shot. Pyle has never taken a flu shot in his life.

"I think this is really good," Pyle said. "A lot of elderly folks can't afford a lot of these tests because the costs are so high. . . . When you have these types of events, it brings people out who normally wouldn't go to a doctor."

The first thing Martha Whelchel did was get a flu shot.

"I think this is great. It lets people know what's available for the community," said Whelchel, who has lived in Camarillo for 42 years. "I've learned about a really great telephone for people who can't hear well. And if the time comes, if I ever need assisted living, there's a good selection."

Clarice Ruth of Somis said the expo was an eye-opener.

"I think it's quite amazing. I was not aware of all the opportunities offered," Ruth said. "This is great for people who need help making decisions."

Just like Culver, other people attended out of sheer curiosity.

"I just want to see the options," said Ron Trueman of Somis.

This year's expo was sponsored by AARP, Aetna, Camarillo Health Care District, ConAgra, Kaiser Permanente, MediTech Health Services, MediTech Home Health, Personal Parent Care, Inc., PVRPD, Rose House Assisted Living, Sunrise Senior Living, Santa Barbara Bank and Trust and Ventura County Area Agency on Aging. PVRPD hosted the event for free.

The senior expo, which was last held in the area at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in 1999, was modeled after the Santa Barbara event. Maria McCall started the first Santa Barbara expo 21 years ago, and Santa Barbara Bank and Trust offered its support for the last 19 events, including the expo last week that featured 800 people and more than 100 vendors.

Brick and McCall worked together to bring the event back to Ventura County. Starting with no money, according to McCall, the committee got donations and commitments from vendors to make the expo a reality.

"Twenty-one years ago, there were only 20 booths and they were focused on arts and crafts. One booth was about knitting," McCall said. "Now it's about health services, long-term health care, fitness and personal enrichment. So it's come a long way."