Event to show how to prepare for retirement
An event this weekend in DuPage County is hoping to give anyone looking toward retirement the tools they need to get the most out of their golden years.
The “Age Well DuPage: Renew, Recharge, Reinvent” event for adults 50 and older is planned for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Homeland Security Education Center, Room 1022, at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., in Glen Ellyn. Admission is free.
Organizers say the goal is to provide information to residents “interested in maximizing their independence through nutrition and wellness.”
In addition, attendees will learn about supportive services and volunteer opportunities that will keep them involved in the community during their retirement, officials said.
“There's going to be information regarding Social Security, Medicare, financial literacy and several other things,” said county board member Robert Larsen, chairman of the health and human services committee. “There's even a Tai Chi class. So I think there's a lot of positive that's going to come out of it.”
More than about 500 people are expected to attend the event, which is co-hosted by DuPage County Senior Services and COD Continuing Education.
Larsen said the second annual event reflects the fact that DuPage is an aging county.
In 2000, DuPage had nearly 89,000 residents 65 and older.
That number increased to 106,000 in 2010.
“We want them to be as prepared as possible for what it means to be a senior in the 21st century,” Larsen said.
This year's guest speaker will be Christine Benz, director of personal finance for Morningstar and senior columnist for Morningstar.com. She will open the event with “Making your money last in retirement — key ways to meet the challenge.”
“The raw materials for sustainable retirement are challenging,” Benz said. “So I'm going to talk about how to make it work using the levers that retirees can actually control.”
Benz said her 30-minute presentation will tie in with the overall goal of the Age Well DuPage event.
“Financial well-being can provide a lot of peace of mind,” she said. “If people are feeling uncertain about their financial future, it tends to create a lot of anxiety and stress in the rest of their lives.”
Other topics expected to be covered during the event's various breakout sessions include gardening, digital job searching, using social media and volunteering.
For more information, contact Antonia Harlan from DuPage County Community Services at (630) 407-6500 or email Antonia.Harlan@dupageco.org, or contact College of DuPage Continuing Education at (630) 942-2208 or email ce@cod.edu.
If You Go
What: Age Well DuPage: Renew, Recharge, Reinvent
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6
Where: Homeland Security Education Center, Room 1022, at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., in Glen Ellyn
Who: Hosted by DuPage County Senior Services and College of DuPage Continuing Education
Cost: Free