9/21: 2022 Health and Wellness Fair

A free local Health and Wellness Fair in Christiansburg on September 21 will provide information on ways to stay healthy, feel healthy, and age well.

The fair is noon to 4 p.m. at Christiansburg Recreation Center, 1600 N. Franklin St. The public event is sponsored by AARP Blacksburg, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and the recreation center.

Close to 100 exhibitors will offer a variety of health information and screenings. Gold sponsors of the health fair are NRV Community Services, OrthoVirginia, Warm Hearth Village, Carilion NRV Medical Center, River Ridge Dermatology, Bath Fitter, Mount Regis Center, Aetna and Engagement Center for Creating Aging. Silver sponsors are Total Motion Physical Therapy, InnovAge and New River Osteopathy.

A major attraction will be VCOM faculty and students offering free medical services and screenings. The public can meet and interact with them one on one.

VCOM will provide information on fall prevention, cancer screenings, osteoporosis, body mass index, immunizations, osteopathic manipulative therapy, health nutrition, and diet.

Flu shots and other immunizations will be available. Pharmacists will be on hand to discuss such topics as drug interactions. Physical and occupational therapists and chiropractors can advise on chronic conditions.

Exhibits will feature how to update your home to make it more accessible. Participatory presentations will include Qi Gong, Tai Chi, mindfulness exercises, laughter yoga and chair yoga. Also featured are massage therapy, home improvement ideas for aging in place, in-home health services, and free light and healthy snacks.

Being engaged in your community can help keep you young, or at least feeling young. Participants will be able to explore opportunities for staying engaged through volunteering and participating in arts events, hiking, travel, exercise, and activities of public libraries.

While many people are attracted to health fairs for explicit health services they can receive, the message at this one will be clear, says Leslie Pendleton, president of AARP Blacksburg: “Successful aging is not just about medical conditions and their management, but about living a full and engaged life and how our community helps make that possible.” Wellness includes not only physical wellness but also intellectual, emotional, financial, social, environmental, occupational, and spiritual wellness.

VCOM provides medical education and research that prepares global-minded, community-focused physicians who improve the health of those most in need. The college has had a collaborative partnership with Virginia Tech since 2002 and supports health and wellness of those in Southwest Virginia and the rest of the Appalachian region by participating in outreach programs and health fairs such as this one.

Parking is abundant at the Christiansburg Recreation Center, and the venue is accessible to the disabled.

For details, contact Leslie Pendleton of AARP Blacksburg, (540) 230-8139 or lkpendleton@gmail.com; or Tammy Caldwell (540) 382-2349 or tcaldwell@christiansburg.org. Also, for more information on AARP Blacksburg go to https://www.blacksburgaarp.org.