Senior Fair & Health Screening

North 65 Chamber Announces Spring 2022 Senior Fair & Health Screenings
 
March 22, 2022 – (rev. 4/19/22) The Chamber is pleased to announce the launch of their annual Senior Fair & Health Screenings to take place on Thursday, April 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, at the City Center Mall, in Cambridge, Minnesota.  The Chamber has organized this free event every year since 2015. There is no pre-registration required. There are approximately 200 seniors and senior caregivers that attend. Despite Covid, last year over 100 screenings were performed.
 
“This annual event provides a vital and easily-accessible service for seniors and their caregivers in our community.  We are pleased to provide this ‘one-stop-shop’ for anyone seeking resources for themselves or their aging parents and loved ones,” said Vanessa Hanzel, Assistant Executive Director of the Chamber. “Bringing businesses and community organizations together fosters a healthy community,” she added.

This fair is unique from other health fairs for the following reasons:

• It features a full circuit of health screenings & follow-up to explain and assist seniors. The circuit is located in one corner of the City Center Mall. Seniors pick up a form as they check-in which lists all the screenings and provides space for the results of each screening to be noted.
  • 8 Health screenings are included: Blood Pressure Screen, Balance/Fall Screen, Sleep screen, Stroke screen, Type2 Diabetes, Live Well Rapid Screen, Nutrition Risk Screen, and a Cognitive Screen.
  • Event Sponsors enable the screenings to be freely provided to seniors. Sponsors are GracePointe Crossing, Isanti Physical Therapy, & Sterling Pointe Senior Living.
  • After completing the circuit, seniors sit down with a representative from Senior Linkage Line, Central Minnesota Council on Aging who explains their individual results. Referrals are provided for follow-up. Mid Minnesota Legal Aid also provides a “legal screening” for free. 
• Health screenings are performed by nursing students from Anoka-Ramsey Community College, led by Instructor of Nursing Christine Andres, and by the following community organizations: Cambridge ACT on Alzheimer’s, Lake and Pines CAC., Cambridge ACT on Alzheimer’s, Catholic Charities Senior Dining, and Family Pathways.
• Caregivers can find a wealth of resources. The event is not just targeted at seniors. It provides a wealth of information for caregivers, or anyone who is seeking resources for aging parents. Each year the number of vendor spots reaches capacity.  A panoply of booths stretches the length of the mall. They include care facilities, dental, health insurance companies, legal services, transit companies, home health care companies, financial services, community education, nutrition programs, community services, and much more.
• Finally, seniors enjoy the opportunity to get out, get their questions answered, and socialize in a safe setting. There are tables for sitting and chatting, with a coffee shop, marketplace, restrooms, and other amenities nearby.