Older adults learn strategies for aging

Panelists at a Strategies for Aging seminar Thursday afternoon at the Callaway Senior Center are, from left, Sherry Vanengelenhoven of the Missouri Division of Family Services, Tim Borman of Callaway Bank, and Callaway County Public Administrator Karen Digh Allen.
Panelists at a Strategies for Aging seminar Thursday afternoon at the Callaway Senior Center are, from left, Sherry Vanengelenhoven of the Missouri Division of Family Services, Tim Borman of Callaway Bank, and Callaway County Public Administrator Karen Digh Allen.

Prior planning is the key to successful and comfortable retirement, more than 100 Callaway County older adults learned Thursday.

Eight experts on various aspects of aging offered tips and answered questions at a Strategies for Aging conference at the Callaway Senior Center.

The conference was organized by Mary Gordon of SERVE, Inc., who heads SERVE's 55 & GO Volunteer Program.

Leslie Anderson of Services for Independent Living told the group that the agency provides a wide variety of services for people with disabilities.

Services include building ramps for the handicapped and even a $2,400 grant for people who have been in a nursing home but want to return to independent living. Often when they first enter a nursing home, all of their possessions are sold and they need money to set up a household and help with initial rent payments.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.