Senior Resource Fairs help connect seniors with important services

Many area senior citizens and their families and friends recently took advantage of opportunities to learn about and connect with available resources and services in Stone and Taney counties. Local nonprofit organization 4 Ozark Seniors hosted Senior Fairs in Kimberling City on March 5, at Our Lady of the Cove Catholic Church, and in Branson on March 12, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. 

Many senior citizens do not know how to find resources for their physical or emotional needs, even though the services are often available. They may simply be given a list by a healthcare provider and face the daunting task of trying to figure out which agencies they should call. Another complicating factor is that some are not regular technology users, and AI phone menus these days can be complicated. The resource fairs offered a great alternative, with personal representatives from a variety of service agencies on hand to answer questions and distribute brochures along with useful giveaway items.  

Nonprofits and services participating included home care agencies, mental health and suicide prevention resources, fitness centers, medication safety and disposal tips, assistance with finding Medicare supplement providers, tax suggestions and much more. 

In addition to practicalities of care and daily living, a big focus of each fair was on connection, with representatives on hand from veterans’ groups, area libraries and opportunities to volunteer. Senior citizens are a wonderful and often untapped wealth of knowledge, and volunteering is a win-win as it offers that knowledge to students, the homebound or other people needing help, as well as giving the volunteer the satisfaction of helping with worthwhile projects and making friends around the community. Give 5 is a local nonprofit providing training for volunteers; the foster grandparent program through AmeriCorps Seniors/OACAC connects seniors through area schools and provides a nontaxable stipend and transportation reimbursement; Integrity Home Care trains volunteers as home care and hospice companions; just to name a few. 

If you couldn’t make it to the fair, not to worry; the mission of 4 Ozark Seniors is to discuss your individual needs and help make those connections. Visit https://www.4ozarkseniors.com, follow the Facebook page, or call 417-559-3099, or email 4ozarkseniors.service@gmail.com.