Services and providers help seniors at ‘Health Fair’

See how this outer East Portland ‘Senior Health Fair’ held in Hazelwood gave information and touted health services to help older folks stay healthy …

Seniors, and younger families too, all arrived at the Senior Health Fair at the East Portland Community Center in the Hazelwood neighborhood.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

As the Medicare “sign up season” was about to start – and as many providers are dropping or changing plans – the Senior Health Fair held on October 4 in the gymnasium of the East Portland Community Center was set up to provide timely information.

Set up as an “open house”, representatives from a variety of organizations were on hand to advise and assist the visitors.

Pausing for a photo, here’s the Fair’s organizer, Community Services Network Community Health Specialist Berryl Omollo – and the sponsor representative, Providence “Medicare Advantage” Retention Medicare Sales Representative Rachel Koven.

“As you’re seeing, this Health Fair is senior-focused,” Community Services Network Community Health Specialist Berryl Omollo confirmed.

“It’s important to have this fair, right here, because the outer East Portland community is often neglected,” expressed Omollo. “There is a need for such organizations as are represented here – especially for the senior community.”

Telling how Birch Community Services “addresses the roots of hunger and economic hardship in our community”, here are representatives Faye Pendergrass and Emily Pinkstaff.

At the Free Food station is volunteer Dianne Holmes.

“We have lots of organizations – specifically, 45 of them – here, with resources and services for seniors,” Omollo pointed out.

It’s Jasmyn Sprague, with Providence Health Plan, talking with a senior visiting the Health Fair.

“Also, available to seniors are direct health services, such as free flu shots, free medical screenings – and, we’re also doing a free food giveaway here, including fresh vegetables as well as canned goods,” Omollo told East Portland News.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors came through, chatted, picked up information, and took home good advice – and free food, too.

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