Local conference aims to help seniors thrive, plan for their futures
BERRIEN COUNTY, Ind. -- For many seniors, planning for the future is a daunting task. Although there are resources, they are not normally found in one place. Luckily, TRIAD's Aging Well Conference could alleviate some of those problems.
TRIAD stands for "the right information and direction." The program started with Project Lifesaver, which equipped people with Alzheimer's with bracelets to help keep them safe. About 40 people showed up to this most recent conference to get pamphlets and figure out how to stay up to date on common issues facing the community.
"We do have a Facebook page, so we have the Berrien County triad that we do try to post when other agencies or different organizations are hosting stuff." Says TRIAD Crime Prevention Coordinator Sheriff Kelly Laesch. "We do try to post that and get the word out. Theres just not one local spot that you can try to find that information so if you don't know about it I think a lot of times people just stay at home and they're comfortable with either their friends or family and try to go off of that information. We do try to encourage people to get out and go to your local senior center because a lot of this information is also provided at our senior centers"
One of the on-site resources was the Area Agency on Aging, which is partnered with the host - the Campus for Creative Aging. That facility wants aging to focus on creativity, purpose, learning and growth, and offers computer classes and caregiver meetings.
Scams, estate planning, asset protection, and Medicare open enrollment were also discussed at length at the conference, so everyone left with all of their questions answered. If you have any questions, TRIAD says to reach out to them or your local senior facility.
TRIAD representatives say one thing those with senior family members and neighbors can do is to check in on them. Making sure they are okay with food, medicine, hygiene and bills goes a long way. Also - educating them about the dangers of spam calls can help keep their assets safe.
Sheriff Laesch says anyone of any age can be a target of a scam, as scammers have gotten more sophisticated in their ways. She says saying, "I know this is a scam and I'm calling the police" usually gets people off the phone and can be helpful for those who might be uncertain about who they are talking to.