Senior Fun Festival

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

While budgets in cities and counties across the State of Michigan were slashed this past year, the needs of its senior population have increased. In the 2000 Census, 144,000 seniors were counted in Macomb County. Realizing that staff must utilize fewer resources to meet more needs, the Senior Fun Festival was created. The goals of the program were three-fold. It was designed to provide education and information to senior citizens, provide a networking opportunity for professionals in the aging demographic and help in the economic development of Macomb County businesses within the senior network. The focus of the Senior Fun Festival was to create relationships between hospitals, senior housing, home care agencies, federal and local government and law enforcement agencies to educate the senior population on services in the community and how to access them. Over 90 information tables provided information on government and for-profit services such as home care, mobility issues, reverse mortgages, senior housing, disabilities, transportation and home delivered meals. For the proud senior generation that is unaccustomed to asking for help, it created the concept of “one-stop shopping” in a relaxing atmosphere, offering information on a myriad of subjects of interest to senior citizens. The event was designed to be fun, yet provide information on health fitness, environmental issues and many other issues that concern senior citizens.