Learn how to live your best life at the Life Options Expo

All are invited to the eighth annual LWSB Life Options Expo on Friday, June 27, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Clubhouse 4 and Veterans Plaza. This popular annual event brings together nonprofits, service providers and local vendors to showcase a wide range of resources that can help enhance residents’ quality of life.

Whether it’s getting a pair of reading glasses or finding the right mobility device, small changes can make a significant difference in maintaining independence and confidence. The Life Options Expo will give people the opportunity to learn about tools that will help them continue to thrive well into their later years.

• Movemorefreely: Seniors experiencing a decline in muscle strength, joint stiffness or lower stamina can enhance their comfort and independence with a mobility device such as a cane, walker or rollator. Mobility devices are provided to residents at no cost from the Golden Age Foundation’s Mobility Aid Office, which will answer questions and provide information at the expo. On the Mend SoCal will also share information about their wide range of mobility devices, such as powered wheelchairs and scooters, alternating pressure surfaces for sores and ulcers, hospital beds, stair lifts and more.

• Improvevision: Vision loss is common in older adults. Not addressing changes in vision can lead to reduced quality of life and increased risk of accidents and falls. The expo will offer free eye evaluations from St. Mary Medical Center’s Low Vision Center, including evaluations for acuity, color, perception, binocularity and farsightedness. People can also donate old eyeglasses or pick up new ones from the Seal Beach Lions Club. Individuals experiencing vision or hearing loss can speak with representatives from the LW Impaired Vision and Hearing Club, which also hosts a support group.

• Feelmoreenergized: As people age, their nutritional needs change, but rising grocery prices can make it challenging for people on fixed incomes to obtain fresh, healthy foods. Low-income seniors may qualify for CalFresh, otherwise known as food stamps, which gives people free money to spend on groceries. Representatives from CalFresh will be onsite to answer questions and help people sign up for the state-funded program. Other organizations like Community Action Partners Food Bank, Meals on Wheels Long Beach and Project Food Box will share information about their free or low-cost food resources.

• Get around town without the hassle of driving: Driving comes with a wide range of headaches—costly car maintenance, gas, rising insurance costs and the hassle of parking. Fortunately, LW residents have access to a variety of free and low-cost transportation options. The GRF Transportation Department will provide information on GRF’s free on-call, point-to-point internal bus system and access bus for people with disabilities. The City of Seal Beach will answer questions about its free senior shuttle bus, and transportation options through city contractor Abrazar Inc., which provides free shopping shuttles, transportation to senior meal programs and Dial-A-Ride transportation to doctor’s appointments in Seal Beach.

• Get extra support for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and decreased senses: Aging often brings a range of challenges, and individuals may find themselves relying more on their support networks. However, not everyone has access to the help they need when they need it most. Representatives from Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility, Parkinson’s Foundation Orange County, and the Alzheimer’s Adult Day Program can offer guidance and compassion to people navigating a recent diagnosis or simply looking for information.

In addition, the expo features a wide range of vendors offering information on advanced planning, assisted living, hospice care, caregiving, senior services, emergency preparedness, transportation, vision and hearing support, and much more.

Live music for the event will be provided by Leisure World musicians. The event will also feature a super raffle with an array of prizes and food from Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, Koffel’s food truck and Scooters Italian Ice.

For more information, contact GRF Member Resources Liaison Robann Arshat at 562431-6586, ext. 2317.

—Emma DiMaggio