Church to host inaugural health fair for women 50 and older, all women invited
By LOIS KINDLE
Fall is the time when lots of organizations host various forms of health fairs. But only one thus far in South Shore focuses solely on senior women.
Unity SouthShore Spiritual Life Center is hosting its first Senior Women’s Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 First Ave. NE, Ruskin.
“This event will be focused on providing information specifically designed to help women 50 and older expand their knowledge about how to achieve and maintain physical health, fitness, nutrition and mental health and deal with financial or legal issues affecting them,” said Robin Trotter, health fair coordinator. “It’s open to the public, but its focus will be primarily on senior women.
“The church is hosting this health fair as a community outreach to build awareness of specific health issues women may encounter and to give them the tools they need to achieve optimal health and well-being,” she said.
Trotter added that women of all ages are also welcome and could benefit from attending.
Every hour on the hour, beginning at 10 a.m., one of five speakers will present the following topics to be followed by 15 minutes of Q&A.
• Ivory Jones-Jennings, DPT and owner of Journey to Harmony Physical Therapy in Ruskin – “Maintaining Balance & Preventing Falls”
• Maria Rivera, ARNP and certified nurse midwife – “Sex and the Senior Woman,” including gynecological issues and sexually transmitted diseases
• Paul Sponseller, certified financial planner with WealthSource Partners, Sun City Center – “Financial Health Options, Money Management and Medicaid Information”
• Barbara Cowherd, attorney, Cowherd Law Firm, Apollo Beach – “Protecting Your Property: Wills, Trusts and Advance Directives”
• Gail DiNoia, American Heart Association volunteer – “Facts about Heart Disease, the No. 1 Killer of Women over 50”
The health fair will also include more than 20 local vendors handing out information on their products and/or services. These will include the Area Agency on Aging and Ruskin Senior Center; LifePath Hospice, Ruskin; Center for Diabetic Hearing, Apollo Beach; SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders); Cheryl Oake, of Sun City Center, yoga instructor; Cynthia Robinson, Medicare specialist; Robin Devling, essential oils; nutritional health coach Ted Jacobus, My Nutra hemp products; nutritionist Shirley Sullivan, founder of South Shore Wellness; and Christina Cieslik, of NextStage Moving.
Suncoast Community Health Center, the Eye Associates and the Center for Diabetic Hearing will provide free screenings for blood pressure, vision, cholesterol, glucose and hearing. There will also be drawings for prizes throughout the event. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for 7. Holders do not need to be present to win.
The International Mobile Kitchen food truck will be on hand preparing and selling fresh American Soul, Puerto Rican, Portuguese, Indian and Jamaican cuisine.
According to the Unity SouthShore Spiritual Life Center website, “Unity is a positive, practical, progressive approach to Christianity based on the teachings of Jesus and the power of prayer. It honors the universal truths of all religions and respects each individual’s right to choose a spiritual path.”
Unity SouthShore Spiritual Life Center services are held at the Firehouse Cultural Center every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
For more information, call 813-481-9060, email unitysouthshore@gmail.com, or visit www.unitysouthshore.org.
