Excitement builds for SaddleBrooke Heath Fair

Phyliss Ketring

The SaddleBrooke Health Fair is Saturday, October 13 from 9:00 a.m.–noon, at the SaddleBrooke One clubhouse. Parking will be at MountainView with luxury coaches shuttling between MountainView and SaddleBrooke One. Shuttles run until 1:30 p.m. allowing time for lunch at the Road Runner. Parking for golf carts and cars with handicap stickers is at SaddleBrooke One. The shuttles will also stop near the Tennis Pavilion for the mini-lectures.

When you approach the front doors, you can drop off unused medications and old eyeglasses. No liquids, no needles. SaddleBrooke Pet Rescue Network will accept your used prescription containers and give them to the Pima Animal Care Center for meds for adopted pets. Remove the labels for privacy.

The convenience of the annual flu shot and other vaccines is one reason many people attend the Health Fair.

Immunizations 

Flu – standard, high dose or quadrivalent; pneumonia and pneumonia Prevnar 13® booster; Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) booster.

Healthwaves offers official lab and allergy tests for a very reasonable price. No prescription necessary. Lab tests include complete blood count, prostate, hemoglobin, thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, C-reactive protein and more. Allergy tests cover both inhalants and food. A complete list, including any fasting requirements, is posted at www.sbseniors.org.

Hospitals

Three local hospitals will be represented. Oro Valley Hospital (Northwest Medical Center) brings information on their primary care and specialty physicians. Banner University of Arizona Cancer Center will do verbal cancer screening and Tucson Medical Center (TMC) will be there with stroke education and advance planning information.

Free Screening

It is fun to collect pens, notepads, tote bags, candy and all sorts of goodies. But that isn’t all that is free. The medical community brings valuable screenings every year. People who take advantage of the free screenings have learned about skin cancer, blood pressure issues, changes in sugar levels, hearing deficits and vision problems. Golder Ranch Fire will do blood pressure screenings and discuss their many services in the community. U of A medical students demonstrate CPR chest compression.

Nineteen vendors will offer free screenings this year. You can find them identified on a poster in the lobby. The Information Desk is ready to answer your questions and help you find exhibitors.

This is a sample of available, free screenings:

Healthy Skin Medical will conduct free skin cancer screenings on the lower level of the clubhouse. You will also find Banner University’s Department of Ophthalmology on the lower level. They check for cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and dry eye.

Fairgoers are familiar with University of Arizona’s College of Pharmacy. These carefully selected pharmacy students do free screenings for blood sugar, A1C, cholesterol and hypertension under the supervision of their professor.

This year the Alzheimer’s Foundation will conduct memory screening and Feather Touch will do hands-on demonstrations of Bowen Therapy, a modality for gentle pain relief.

Premier Hearing will do hearing screening. Ted Robu offers free mini-massages and Brue Chiropractic does spinal assessments. Heart4Life will assess your BMI (Body Mass Index) and Vital Moves conducts balance screening.

The Center for Venous Disease does a visual assessment of veins and provides education on varicose veins. Ridgeview Physical Therapy provides balance/fall risk assessment using the Biodex SD machine. Arizona Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons conduct oral cancer screening.

The screenings are valuable and the fair offers even more life-saving information provided by other exhibitors. The Health Fair aims to provide a representative sampling of health services in the community.

Plastic Surgery

The expertise of Hess & Sandeen Plastic Surgery is well known and you will be able to discuss your individual issues with these highly-skilled surgeons specializing in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.

Allergies

Learn more about this persistent problem from Allergy Partners of Arizona. You will also be able to take official allergy tests at a reasonable price from Healthwaves.

Nutrition

Nancy Teeter can advise you on the right diet for your physical issues. Whether it’s macular degeneration, diabetes, heart, orthopedic or other, she can create a plan for you.

Orthopedic and Podiatry

Tucson Orthopedic has a staff of a wide variety of orthopedic surgeons. Learn more at their exhibit. Desert Podiatric Medical Specialist will provide information about foot and ankle care including custom orthotics and diabetic foot care.

Pain Management and Stem Cells

Rejuv Medical Southwest brings information on stem cell therapy in orthopedics and other functional medicine.

Transportation

Fran the Gopher will discuss her transportation and errand services. Be sure to pick up a business card and brochure.

Mini-Seminars at Tennis Pavilion

9:30 a.m.: Dr. Dardari, new SaddleBrooke physician, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics

10:15 a.m.: Katrina Kittel, Oro Valley Hospital pharmacist

11:00 a.m.: David Loendorf, Senior Village President

The Health Fair provides a unique opportunity to meet with healthcare providers in many fields: allergy, assisted living, audiology, cardiology, chiropractic, dentistry, gynecology, massage therapy, neurology, neurosurgery, nutrition, oncology, orthopedics, pain management, physical fitness, physical therapy, podiatry, rehabilitation, surgery and vision. You will also find representatives from senior placement, funeral services, hospice and in-home services. There will be financial, legal and insurance information available.