Over 300 Queens residents listened and learned at the fourth annual Eldercare Expo and Conference for seniors and their caregivers at the Queens College Fitzgerald Gym this past Sunday, November 17. Shea Rubenstein, Executive Vice President of the JCC of Marine Park, observed that “it was great to see such a diverse crowd” attend the eldercare conference and discover new opportunities from the “important topics covered at the day’s seminars.”
Jacob and his wife Ellen saw a flyer on Main Street in Kew Gardens Hills on Motza’ei Shabbos while going for pizza and knew that their presence at the expo could certainly open new windows for their healthcare. The couple partakes in person-centered care, working with their doctors to make the most appropriate choices.
The event was coordinated by The JCC of Marine Park, Chazaq, New York United Jewish, in partnership with Schneps Media, one of the largest local media news groups in the state. The event featured various informational seminars and more than 30 vendor booths showcasing a variety of facilities, products, and services, such as assisted living, home care, pooled trusts, legal advice, insurance options, osteopathy, skin care, and community wellness initiatives.
The global population of those who are 65 years of age and older is rising at an exponential rate. Driven by better healthcare, advancements in nutrition, and an abrupt decrease in infectious disease exposure, lifespan expectancy has grown and demographics have changed. Now, the geriatric generation requires a new level of medical support, and a pattern has surfaced in the absence of family-based healthcare being available alongside changing consumer preferences.
Harriet Blank, OHEL’s Director of Geriatric Services, noted how her team is “always available to offer a breadth of highly specialized, effective, and efficient eldercare support services, and how proud OHEL is to participate in this conference.” From a helpline to a support program and counseling, mobile visits, and pooled trusts, OHEL is a driving force for geriatric care.
An on-site financial planner offered one-on-one advice to those seeking assistance. Acclaimed speakers delivered informational seminars, and attendees had the opportunity to interact with these industry leaders afterward. The advisors from the Able Wealth Management provided financial planning tips, and the team at Fidelis gave an in-depth understanding of Medicare. Later in the day, Dr. Joseph Tarantino, who works out of the ambulatory clinic of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, gave a talk on wound care and podiatry. The Korsinsky and Klein Law Firm was on-hand to provide vital techniques for estate and long-term care planning.
The guests walked away with a great attainment of knowledge and newfound options for their health, finances, and insurance needs. Rubenstein concluded, “We were really excited to organize this event for the public to understand their healthcare choices.”
By Shabsie Saphirstein
