Senior Issues
Today’s senior citizens face a unique set of challenges that they did not anticipate a quarter-century ago. Uncertain federal government funding of Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other senior services, plays havoc with their lives.
Commissioner Fickes recognizes the concerns of senior citizens, so in 2009 he
assembled the Northeast Senior Task Force to examine the critical
issues that our seniors face daily.
The Task Force pointed out key issues relating to everyday lives such as healthcare
needs, transportation issues, senior isolation, protection from scam artists
and senior employment.
They also recognized that baby boomers aged 50+ are also experiencing these same issues, for both their parents and themselves.
Commissioner Fickes took the lead from this research and worked with his team
to create Empowering Seniors, an event that helped the elder
population access information from area non-profit agencies and vendors while
attending informative and entertaining seminars.
Attendees receive free health screenings from local hospitals, choose from a
variety of seminars, enjoy a complimentary meal, and visit over 80 booths from
area non-profit agencies and vendors.
A good number of seniors have described this event as the only time that they receive preventive health check-ups during the year, because it’s a free service.
Yes, free. Commissioner Fickes has consistently attracted enough sponsors to underwrite the entire cost of the event, including lunch, so that seniors could attend the event with absolutely no cost.
Empowering Seniors 2009 drew a capacity crowd at the Richland Hills Church of Christ, which led to the move to a larger venue. Held at the Campus West facility of First Baptist Church of Euless, Empowering Seniors 2010 attracted just shy of 1,000 attendees. Empowering Seniors 2011 will draw an even larger crowd.
One official who attends senior events throughout Texas describes Empowering Seniors as “the premiere seniors event in the entire state.”
Gary Fickes