Expo to give seniors healthy advice

WINTER GARDEN — West Orange County residents 50 and older can get information and tips on healthy living at an expo being held just for them from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 16. The Seniors Health Expo, hosted by Natalie Betancourt and Shape Up 4 Seniors, will take place at the Jessie Brock Community Center, 310 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden. To add excitement to the evening, organizers are staging a 1950s senior prom from 6 to 8 p.m., and a king and queen will be crowned.

More than 55 health-related vendors will set up booths and offer information on pharmacies, health centers, medical equipment, physical therapy, funeral homes, specialized medicine, assisted- and independent-living facilities, health insurance and other health services.

Admission is free, but those attending are asked to take a non-perishable food item for Bread of Life Fellowship’s, the chosen charity for this expo.

Sponsors are Elevation Christian Church, Orange County Library System, Women’s Journal, Body Coach, Aflac, Golden Pond Communities and West Orange Times & Observer.

Betancourt has organized these expos for three years, but this will be her first time in Winter Garden. Following this event, she has a few more planned this year at Orlando Fashion Square and in Seminole County and others, in 2016, in Kissimmee, Clermont and Winter Garden. Betancourt said she expects to hold an expo every other month in Central Florida by 2017.

It’s important for seniors to attend programs such as this, Betancourt said.

“Shape Up 4 Seniors provides Seniors Health Expos events in Central Florida with only one purpose: to inform, update, educate and keep our seniors with the latest and most accurate information possible,” she said. “Technology is moving faster than information given, and our seniors need to be aware of all changes.”

Betancourt stressed that this is not a sales exposition.

“We don’t sell (anything) in the expos,” she said. “This is strictly targeting men and women over 50 years of age with a purpose in mind — vendors willing to answer questions of the seniors and cater to them with medical services and products so they can make their own decisions.”

PROM NIGHT

At 6 p.m., senior citizens are invited to enjoy a 1950s senior prom. It’s free and open to anyone 50 and older. Lemonade, popcorn and miniature cupcakes will be served.

“I want them to feel this is their time, and I want them to remember those years,” Betancourt said.

A king and queen will be crowned that night: 86-year-old David Smyth and 99-year-old Adela Choquet. Smyth is a former lumber and hardware store owner, and Ghoquet is a retired yoga instructor.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].