'Age Well' event guides seniors through finances, retirement

College of DuPage Continuing Education will partner with DuPage County Senior Services to host "Age Well DuPage: Renew, Recharge, Reinvent."

The free event runs 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, in the Homeland Security Education Center, Room 1022, on the college's main campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

This year's event aligns with Money Smart Week, with a special focus on financial literacy. Christine Benz, director of personal finance for Morningstar Inc. and a senior columnist for Morningstar.com, will deliver the keynote presentation, "Making Your Money Last in Retirement: Key Ways to Meet the Challenge."

In addition, the seminar will feature breakout sessions on topics such as health and wellness, Medicare, social security, careers, technology, gardening and volunteerism.

Refreshments will be provided courtesy of The Fresh Market, COD's Waterleaf Restaurant and Java Chicago. Media sponsors for the event include WDCB-FM 90.9 and the Daily Herald.

During this event, also co-sponsored by Walgreens and MB Financial, attendees will learn about resources and services of interest to adults 50 and older in DuPage County.

The event is designed to celebrate reinvention and to guide participants in aging and living well and making the most of the second half of life. According to Continuing Education Program Development Specialist Cristina Willard, the partnership between College of DuPage and DuPage County Senior Services reflects both agencies' goal of serving the wants and needs of the community.

"We are pleased to partner with DuPage County Senior Services for Age Well DuPage," she said. "This event is a great opportunity for us to inform members of the community of all the wonderful opportunities, assistance and services available at College of DuPage and in DuPage County."

In addition to life-enriching educational opportunities, College of DuPage Continuing Education offers a variety of programs to lifelong learners in the area such as free Lunch Break Lectures, special Plus 50 programming, and discounts for adults 55 and older.

DuPage County Senior Services provides residents 60 and older with programs and services designed to facilitate healthy aging. The organization is funded through the Illinois Department on Aging and the Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging to serve as the Case Coordination Unit for DuPage County.

This unit publishes the "Age Well DuPage" senior resource directory, the Long Term Facilities Directory and the Senior Housing Directory.

The event is free and registration is welcome but not required. For information or to register, call (630) 942-2208 or email ce@cod.edu.

Additional information is available by calling DuPage Senior Services at (630) 407-6500.