Hands-On For Healthy Lifestyles

At Lockwood Lodge

By Dottie Evans

Whether they were soothed by Grandma’s Herbal Pillows, energized by the calming touch of a Usui Reiki massage master, or relaxed and restored by a reflexology foot rub, area seniors had plenty of reasons to smile after spending a couple of hours on Tuesday, May 18, at a community fair titled  “Healthy Lifestyles For Seniors On-The-Go.”

The fair was held in celebration of Older American’s Month and was co-hosted by Lockwood Lodge at Ashlar of Newtown and Connecticut Visiting Nurses Association (VNA).

“I just hope we don’t run out of lunches,” said Lockwood Lodge Marketing Director Charon Cote as she handed out each box packed with a turkey sandwich on brown bread, bottled water, an apple, and a bag of chips.

Attendance was way up this year, Ms Cote remarked, since by noon more than 100 of the free “Grab And Go” box lunches had been distributed and the fair was scheduled to go on until 2 pm.

In addition to the hands-on healing stations, there were numerous tables and booths with vendors or health care specialists standing by to explain their products and services.

Some of the participants included the following: Maggie Smith for Lyme disease, Cindy Burke with the Alzheimer’s Association, Debbie Burke with the Danbury Hospital Praxair Cancer Center, TRIAD of Newtown with Director of Newtown Senior Services Marilyn Place, posture screening with Della Schmidt, low vision screening with Dr Marguis, and awareness counseling –– feng shui with Susan Pildis.

In addition, the Connecticut VNA offered seniors blood pressure screening and gave out information about the Telehealth Monitor.

“I’m a very happy customer. That’s the best therapy there is,” said Brookfield resident Nancy Terrill after getting up from her foot rub with reflexologist Nancy Barnes.

Most people, who exited the facility carrying their box lunches and several informational packets in both hands, seemed to agree.