Aging Well Living Well Expo set for Lewiston Sept. 29

LEWISTON — The 2023 Aging Well Living Well Expo, presented by SeniorsPlus, is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 29.

The event begins with a breakfast keynote address by Mary Lou Ciolfi, a senior program manager at the University of Maine Center on Aging.

Featuring workshops and lectures and running from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the event will be held at the Grand Summit Hotel and Conference Center at Sunday River in Newry, according to a news release from SeniorsPlus, the designated Area Agency on Aging for Western Maine.

Mary Lou Ciolfi, a senior program manager at the University of Maine Center on Aging, will be the keynote speaker on Sept. 29 at the 2023 Aging Well Living Well Expo in Lewiston, presented by SeniorsPlus. Submitted photo

Ciolfi recently directed a national project creating a Designation of Excellence in person-centered long-term care. The title of her presentation will be “Looking Forward to Our Own Aging? It Shouldn’t Be This Hard.” She will share insight into the root causes of ageist ideas and attitudes such as “anti-aging” and “greedy geezer,” and what people can do to support a positive shift in our beliefs about aging and older people.

The workshops and programs attendees choose from cover a spectrum of topics like law, health, exercise, cooking and art. Workshop titles range from “Card Making” to “Lifelong Learning and the Brain,” to “Self Defense for Older Adults” and “Know Your Rights: A Primer on the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

Workshops run 75 minutes each.

There also will be a musical jam session, as well as a vaccination clinic offered by SeniorsPlus in conjunction with Northern Light Health. Flu and COVID vaccinations will be available to anyone older than 18. Those interested should bring an insurance card and check “interested” on the registration form.

Exhibitor booths and displays provide an opportunity to learn about a variety of products, services and information.

Almost 300 attendees attended the Expo in 2019, the last year it was held; 2023 will mark the 13th year the event has been presented.

SeniorsPlus is supported by its expo sponsors Turner Publishing, Inc., Healey & Associates, VRI & New England Emergency Response Systems, Aetna Medicare Solutions, Martin’s Point Healthcare, Richard Brothers Financial Advisors, and University Credit Union.

Tickets cost $35 per person and include breakfast and lunch, as well as entrance to workshops. Registration can be completed by calling 800-427-1241 or visiting seniorsplus.org/AWLW, where a complete schedule of programming can be found.

Raffle tickets can be purchased at the event for an additional fee. Seats are limited; advance registration is strongly recommended.