Many Attend Senior Alliance’s Engaged 4 Life Event

The Senior Alliance of Steele County and Hy-Vee hosted their Engaged 4 Life event Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran in Owatonna.

A great crowd turned out for the event, which offered information, education and screenings for residents 50 and older. Local doctor Simon Mittal presented a practical and informative keynote address on end of life questions and issues.

Demonstrations included "Bringing New Life to Senior Living" by Brookdale Senior Living, "Better Health with Reflexology" and a presentation on a therapy program for Parkinson's disease from Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.

More than 40 vendors were on hand showing off goods and services for seniors. Among the groups were Grandparents for Education, The Kiwanis Golden K Club, AARP Driver Safety, the Steele County Sheriff's Office, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services and Amy Swain Hearing Center. Trinity Lutheran Church offers an appropriately sized community room to offer easy access to all the vendors. Demonstrations and the keynote address took place in other rooms of the church.

The Steele County Senior Alliance consists of 12 local groups.

• Catholic Charities
• Heartland Hospice
• Minnesota Prairie County Alliance
• Brookdale of Owatonna
• Valleyview of Owatonna
• St. Croix Hospice
• Courage Kenny Rehab Institute
• Healthy Seniors of Steele County
• Independent Home Care
• Steele County Public Health
• Home Instead Senior Care
• Visiting Angels

Deb Gillard (Brookdale) leads the alliance. Other board members include Melissa Block (Brookdale), Susan Siegle (Heartland Hospice) and Tara Watson (Minnesota Prairie County Alliance).