Fairfax County’s Living Well, Aging Well Summit, April 16

Living Well, Aging Well Summit hosted by Fairfax County and partners is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.

This free event will feature a transportation and mobility expo, a technology fair, a volunteer fair, a CarFit program, health screenings, exhibits, seminars, presentations and more.

Physician, professor and geriatric medicine pioneer, Richard W. Lindsay will deliver the keynote presentation.

The summit “will offer multiple approaches to aging well and living well with a disability,” said Summit Planning Chairwoman Melanie Rochon Bush, DPT, PT. She said the summit will provide abundant information on health and wellness, county services and volunteer opportunities.

Dr. Bush, director of Fairfax Rehab, Inc./Select Senior Options, is a member of the county’s Long Term Care Coordinating Council, a group of local and private agencies that promote caring, inclusive and supportive communities. The council is the lead organizer of the event.

Parking is free and plentiful. Register at www.livingwellfairfax.org or call 703-324-7647. For ADA requests, call 703-324-5421.

Seminars include:

• Navigating the Medicaid Maze: Waivers, Eligibility and Documentation

Joan Irwin, Long-Term Care Self-Sufficiency Team, Department of Family Services. Learn about Medicaid’s eligibility criteria, screening process, required documentation and how Medicaid funds home-based and nursing home care.

• Understanding Medicare Parts A, B, C and D

Bill Vaughan, counselor, Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program. Get the most out of Medicare. There will be time afterwards for questions.

• Healthy Habits for a Healthier You

Ana Nelson, vice president of Programs and Services, Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter. Find out how to optimize your physical and cognitive health as you age.

• Staying Active: Move, Learn, Create Margot Greenlee, director, BodyWise Dance. This dance class encourages increased mobility, social engagement and rhythmic accuracy.

• Balance, Balance and More Balance Woody McMahon, Founder, Sequoia Health and Fitness, Inc. This 1-hour interactive workshop tests your balance and offers simple ways for improvement.

• Five Questions to Consider About Paying for Long-Term Care

Thomas C. West, CLU, ChFC, AIF, financial advisor, Signature Estate & Investment Advisors, LLC. Learn how to use your resources wisely and avoid common money mistakes.

• Fairfax County’s Community Resources to Help You Live Well and Age Well

Sharon Lynn, director, Fairfax Area Agency on Aging; Bob MacMurdo and Carlos Estrada, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board. Learn about county services for older adults and for people with mental health, substance abuse disorders and intellectual disability.

• Social Media and Older Adults

Emily Rasowsky, Director of Marketing Strategy Social Driver. Learn about Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Skype, FaceTime and the top apps for older adults.

• Aging Well in the Community

Barbara Sullivan, executive director, Mount Vernon At Home; Michelle Scott, executive director, Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna; Matthew Barkley, director, Disability Services Planning and Development. Panelists will discuss transportation, social programs, accessibility and home safety, community engagement and the Fairfax 50+ Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative.

• Fun on the Horizon

Evan Braff, regional manager, Department of Neighborhood and Community Services; Jennifer Disano, executive director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at GMU. Learn the benefits of participating in leisure activities that support mental and physical health.

• Connected Health: A Healthier You Through Technology

Telehealth, sometimes called Telemedicine, improves health by connecting the patient at one location with the provider at another site. Learn about telehealth in addressing diabetes and heart disease.

Keynote Speaker, Dr. Lindsay: Richard W. Lindsay, M.D., is Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine and Family Medicine at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, and is founder and former Head of the University’s Division of Geriatric Medicine.

50+ Employment Expo April 18

Dozens of job recruiters will be present at the 50+ Employment Expo on Monday April 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The day features seminars on changing careers, online job searching, continuing education and resume help.

Recruiters include nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare, retail, technology and more.

Chief Meteorologist Doug Hill of ABC 7/ WJLA-TV News will be the special keynote speaker.

The Expo takes place at the Sheraton Tysons Hotel at Tysons Corner, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. This site is accessible via Metro. Use the Silver Line’s Spring Hill stop.

The Expo is sponsored by the Jewish Council for the Aging, Fairfax County and community partners. Free admission and parking. Registration is not necessary— just show up.

For more information, go to www.access jca.org/50plusjobexpos.

For accommodation requests, contact Micki Gordon at mgordon@accessjca.org or call 301- 255-4209.

If you are an area employer who would like to exhibit, call Micki Gordon at 301-255- 4209.

This event is made possible in part by funding from the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and supports the Fairfax 50+ Community Action Plan.

Mobility Fair at Living Well, Sat. April 16

Transportation Options in Fairfax County

Accessible and affordable transportation is a critical need for older adults and people with disabilities in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. The ability to stay mobile enables people to continue living in their suburban neighborhoods and keeps them involved in the community around them. When people need to limit their driving or give it up altogether, the effect on their health and well-being can be devastating — unless they have alternative means of transportation.
Most county residents are not aware of the numerous transportation options that are available. Did you know that there are taxi discount programs available to many residents? Are you aware that there are people who can show you how to use the public transportation that is available: taxis, buses and Metro? In addition, there are volunteers who drive folks all over Fairfax County. There’s never enough transportation to meet everyone’s needs, but Fairfax County is addressing this issue. The county was awarded a Mobility Management grant. The new Mobility Manager, Susan Shaw, is working to establish a coalition of community leaders to expand transportation options for older adults and persons with disabilities. Lately there’s been a lot of interest in Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber. Come to the Mobility Fair at the Living Well, Aging Well Summit on Saturday, April 16. You’ll meet Susan Shaw, Cherie Leporatti from Metro’s Travel Training Program and Jeanna Muhoro from the county’s Human Services Transportation Division. Representatives from NV Rides, an accessible taxicab company, and nonprofit volunteer groups that offer rides also will be there. Find out about current services that could benefit you.

Senior Slow-Pitch Softball

Join Northern Virginia Senior Softball for fun, fitness, and friendship, (men age 50 and over, women age 40 and over). The average age of players is 66. Games are played Tuesday and Thursday mornings, April-July and September-October. Placement on one of 26 teams in three skill leagues is by ability assessment, not a tryout. Everyone present bats and 11 play defense. To get the ball rolling, go to www.nvss.org or call Dave at 703-524-5576.