Tyler health fair highlights diversity of care for senior citizens

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - East Texas Benefits hosted a senior health fair today in Tyler with 26 different community liaisons representing their local resources geared towards seniors. Lynn Florence, with East Texas Benefits, says this is a way to have all the information in one place.

“They don’t have to get online which some of them don’t know how to do and sometimes it’s real hard for them once they get on the phone with someone to ask exactly what they want. So, when they are here, we can answer their questions and meet their needs,” Florence said.

Resources such as hospice care companies, therapy, nursing, and rehabilitation centers, DCFS and more are usually in attendance and were today.

Melva Asberry is a part of the Tyler Senior Center who traveled all together for today’s event. She says this is a way for seniors to get out of the house and meet people.

“I get out daily, Monday through Friday as much as I can for activities to find out what is going on in Tyler for the month of September or November or whatever. And maybe meet some friends that want to walk and do some exercise or just get involved,” Asberry said.

She says it also makes seniors aware of other tools that can be at their fingertips.

“It’s awareness, it’s an open eye, it’s something you can go and do to keep you going,” Asberry said.

Steve Houston, the community liaison with Solaris Hospice, says it’s important to extend and give extra effort to connect with our seniors.

“We have to now as this generation grasp our seniors to let them know they are still very important and when we have these health fairs that’s why we do a lot of them, to let them know yes you are important we care and we want to make sure you have what you need,” Houston said.

This is the first year East Texas Benefits has hosted a health fair, they plan on doing one annually now.

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