Following a successful inaugural year in 2023, the Nevada County Health Fair will return Wednesday, October 9, to offer a one-stop shop for health care resources for the elderly, those with disabilities, and the caregivers who aid them.
“Last year we had over 350 people come,” said co-organizer Barbara Larsen. “It was really something. For a lot of us, what was so sacred about it is that coming out of COVID the vendors and the people who attended were feeling like, ‘Oh, here’s our community back again. We’re back with each other again.’ Everyone was very elated and very positive.”
With around 40 vendors being represented, guests will receive a goodie bag upon entry, which will include the updated Nevada County Elderly Care Provider Coalition’s Guide, a resource listing providers of different facets of health care.
“You could say on some level it is for everybody but really it’s for elders and people with a disability,” explained Larsen. “If someone is a younger person and is taking care of their mother or their father, anyone like that, of course they’re invited. And we have resources for them and for their loved ones as well.”
Larsen said that Nevada County is one of the rare counties in California that has Senior Outreach Nurses, a free service that provides Comprehensive health and safety assessments, continued in home follow up, fall prevention education, health screenings, and medication education/management resources.
“Placer County doesn’t have this; we have this,” Larsen said. “So if a person is 60 or older and is isolated and needs someone to come in, a nurse to do an evaluation, that’s all free of charge.”
Booths will be presented by vendors like Sierra Services for the Blind, FREED, and Foothills Compassionate Care (formerly Hospice of the Foothills).
“We are going to have the county nurses giving flu shots and Dokimos will be there to schedule COVID vaccinations,” said Larsen. “We’re going to have Gold Country Audiology there too, checking hearing and checking balance. It’s just going to be all these services and blood pressure checks. The only thing we ask is that if you want a flu shot to call 211 and schedule your time to get your flu shot.”
Preventative care is something Larsen said is generally lacking in the American model of health care, and just one goal of the health Fair is to raise awareness on how critical steps can be made throughout one’s life.
“We are not a nation that is preventative by nature, and especially our health care,” she said. “We’re spending more money toward the end of our lives than we do in preventing. I think this (fair) is another way to say ‘Oh, maybe I don’t need this now, but maybe I will in the future. Maybe my loved one is showing a little memory loss right now. Why am I waiting? What am I waiting for?’ (The fair is a chance) to see, what are the resources now that I can use for the future so that I will not be working out of crisis?”
Entry to the Nevada County Health Fair is free, and there will be snacks to enjoy. The Fair will take place Wednesday, October 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Gold Miner’s Inn, 122 Bank Street in Grass Valley. Nevada County Connects will be offering free rides to the event.
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