Free Upside of Aging Expo November 8

As the world changes and personal information becomes less and less private, increasing numbers of vulnerable adults, including some seniors, are being taken advantage of.

As the world changes and personal information becomes less and less private, increasing numbers of vulnerable adults, including some seniors, are being taken advantage of. The solution to many of these cases of fraud is education, which can change would-be victims into smart consumers. The 4th annual Upside of Aging Expo, an Oklahoma Seniors Against Fraud event, will be held Saturday, November 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the new Exchange Building at the Tulsa Fairgrounds. This is a completely free event and is open to the public.

The Upside of Aging Expo is put on by the Triad Committee – a partnership between Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, Tulsa Sheriff Stanley Glanz, Tulsa Police Chief Ronald Palmer, and other state and local entities committed to educating and protecting vulnerable adults from fraud. Volunteer organizations participating in this event in conjunction with the Triad Committee include RSVP, the Tulsa Area Agency on Aging, St. John’s Hospital, the Oklahoma Insurance Department, Adult Protective Services, the Family Safety Center and SeniorSelect.

Imane Rose is the marketing director for SeniorSelect, a private health services company that provides seniors with day-to-day living assistance. “Mayor Taylor said she wanted to enhance the delivery of law enforcement to protect seniors,” says Imane. “The Triad Committee was created out of nothing, with no budget and no resources, to promote elder care safety. The Upside of Aging seminar is what’s come out of it, and it’s gotten bigger and more comprehensive each year.

“This is a great time to come down and hear about elder care issues. There will be booths, workshops and speakers. This seminar isn’t sales-oriented; it’s purely informational. It’s about giving people the knowledge to be safe and stay safe.”

At 10 a.m., Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, Sheriff Glanz and Chief Palmer will speak about how to avoid internet, telemarketing and insurance scams. At 11 a.m., Jackie Lenzy of the Alzheimer’s Association will speak on the safe return program for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. At noon, Cindy Loftin of LIFE Senior Services will explain the changes in Medicare Part D. A station will be set up to help attendees evaluate what their best Medicare Part D option will be for 2009. At 1 p.m., Sean Voskuhl, assistant state director of AARP, will discuss what is on Oklahoma’s agenda that is pertinent to aging. This will include an open question-and-answer session.

“This is a great opportunity to plug yourself into the community,” says Imane. “There are a lot of resources in the community that people might not be aware of. It’s free – you’ve got nothing to lose by coming down, and you’ll go home with a bunch of information that will be helpful to you later. Stay safe, don’t be a victim and get educated.”

The Upside of Aging Expo is Saturday, November 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is free to the public. For more information, call Imane Rose at (918) 902-2523.

For more information, contact

The Upside of Aging Expo

(918) 902-2523