NSYMCA Seniorpalooza puts the focus on health and fun
The North Suburban YMCA hosted its sixth annual Seniorpalooza, a health and fun fair for older adults, Sept. 13. The free event brought in a wide variety of local organizations and businesses offering wellness presentations, health screenings, giveaways, raffles prizes, flu clinic and demonstration classes. This year's event featured 48 vendors/sponsors and brought in more than 350 guests.
"Now in our sixth year, this has been the highest attended SeniorPalooza to date with the most vendors exhibiting," said Kim Nyren, Director of Community Investments and Events for the NSYMCA. "As part of our mission for inclusion and education, we run this free event because they are so important to our senior community, which makes up about 22% of our membership at the Y."
The event also offered a YMCA Education Series "Lunch and Learn" presented by Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. Dr. Donna Ishak spoke on balance and fall prevention. The presentation was sold out and was a part of the YMCA Education Series (Y.E.S.), a series of free live presentations by local professionals covering topics related to physical, mental, and social health and well-being. The presentations are recorded as podcasts and made available on the NSYMCA YouTube Platform. "This event was truly amazing I have never been to a senior health fair that offered so many vendors," said Valeria Graves. "I am so impressed by the number of services the Y offers adult seniors and walked away from this event learning so much more about balance prevention and ways to stay healthy."
One of the vendors, GoGreen Northbrook distributed reusable grocery bags provided by the Village of Northbrook. Starting Jan. 1, 2024, customers will be charged 10 cents for each single-use paper or plastic bag at retail stores in Northbrook. Extra bags will be distributed at the NSYMCA while supplies last.
Premier event sponsors for the event include Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, Allstate, Daily Herald, Waterway Carwash, And Wintrust Community Banks.
Participating sponsors and vendors include Aetna, Arosa Chicagoland, Aldan Northmoor, Bella Terra Wheeling, CapTel Outreach, CJE SeniorLife, Edwards Lifesciences, Eldersmart, Legacy Travel, The Lodge of Northbrook, The Manual Touch PT, Margolis Law, Matlin Law Group, Northshore Health Systems, North Shore Place, Peck Ritchey, Pioneer Conceirge Medicine, Right at Home, Ruby Therapeutic Massage, Seattle Sutton, Senior Helpers, TASH Wellness for Women, United Healthcare, Warren Barr North Shore and Whitehall of Deerfield.