Hundreds Attend Health Fair In Berkeley Township

by Jason Allentoff

The Health Care Institute of New Jersey sponsored a health and wellness fair in Berkeley Township Monday. Hundreds of people attended the session where the main focus was on healthier living and new medical advances that can improve the quality of life. The event brought out people from all age groups from the very young to seniors - to the healthy and to those ailing with debilitating and incurable diseases. However, despite the outlook for some, everyone's spirits remained high during the four hour fair. Residents from as far away as Little Egg Harbor and even parts of Burlington County came out to see what the forum was all about.

Attendees took complete advantage of the various screenings which included cholesterol, body mass index readings, sugar level testing and blood pressure. Topics discussed included cholesterol and glucose health and ways diet and exercise can not only help with weight loss but change the way you feel throughout the day. Energy levels that were once dwindling can be increased with even ten to twenty minutes of slow-paced walking. More than a dozen vendors and health care providers and agencies had tables set up with pamphlets and literature visitors could take with them for more information.

A slew of special guests attended including 3rd District Congressman John Adler, Berkeley Township Mayor Jason Varano, Bob Franks who heads the Health Care Institute of New Jersey and Jane Maloney of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.

3rd District Congressman John Adler spoke to the crowd and vowed to continue to fight for senior rights here at home and in Washington D.C. Adler says he wants everyone to know that the economic situation we are all feeling is having an effect on health care but they are working to make things better at a local and national level. Adler says "we have the chance to reform the nation's health care system - to get better results and more affordable costs for businesses and individuals and I think this year we will make tremendous strides at working towards an improved system." Adler says costs have been on the rise for quite sometime and they need to "slow the costs so the people who are being slammed right now with high rates can catch a break. People shouldn't have to chose between eating and health care."

Hollie Gilroy, a spokesperson with The Health Care Institute of New Jersey, says the goal is to bring professional expertise directly to local residents and a lot of advances in the medical field have changed things for the better. She says "technology, better medicine is helping people live longer, better lives and the senior population in particular is very astute when it comes to learning about new ways of treating ailments." Gilroy says they were pleased with the turnout and throughout the day, more and more people dropped in to pick up information, get screened for various health conditions and just have a place to talk to officials who could lend a helping hand and provide plenty of free advice.

Jane Maloney with the Ocean County Office of Senior Services says arming yourself with the knowledge that if you're diagnosed with an illness, there are treatment options available and help can be just a phone call away. She adds "often times, people who contact her office are worried about their living situation. People are frightened because they want to stay in their homes for as long as possible. The number one issue is to try and get to these people early on so they're not faced with nursing home placement." Maloney says anyone who needs information should log on to their web site at http://www.ocean.nj.us/SeniorServicesMainPage.aspx

President of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey Bob Franks was one of the guest speakers. He says there is a real need for these types of programs so residents can know what options they have open to them. He adds "seniors in particular are interested in learning about the resources. In some cases, these people are afflicted with a disease or they are a caregiver to someone else who needs assistance." Franks says this will not be the last seminar. They hope to have another one later in the year.