An Expo not Just for the Older or the Bolder

Carlsbad CA— Aging is an inevitable part of life.  How well we prepare for the future will determine the quality of our everyday living.  The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is planning the first Older & Bolder Expo on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 6628 Santa Isabel, Carlsbad.  The free event will educate and raise awareness about the issues that can and do affect us as we age.
Featured at the premier event will be the latest information on products and services designed to make the most of life at any age.  A lineup of expert speakers will talk about topics ranging from financial planning and navigating Medicare to home safety, adult learning and stroke awareness and prevention.  Dozens of exhibitors will offer the latest information and essential tips on aging successfully.
Most often we do not plan for what is being coined by gerontologists as the “third age,” states Alesia Clark, founder of Engage Life Care.  “Beyond financial retirement plans, we must plan for all facets of our well-being for an extraordinary tomorrow.”
Planning for the future not only includes caring for ourselves but also caring for parents and/or grandparents. One goal of the Expo is to provide helpful information and connections for caregivers.  According to the National Council on Aging, so many Americans, whether they realize it or not, are caregivers. Approximately 40 million Americans provide unpaid care to older adults and adults with disabilities—the majority of whom also juggle a job or other responsibilities. Wearing all these hats can take its toll.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Website states it is expected that there will be 71 million people aged 65 years old and older when all baby boomers are at least 65 years old in 2030.  Planning for the future becomes even more imperative because the number of older adults needing help and services is quickly growing.
“We are working hard to make the first Expo a huge success,” said Bret
Schanzenbach, President and C.E.O. of the Carlsbad Chamber.  “People are living longer, and many are working well into their seventies and even eighties.  We want to continue this event in the foreseeable future to provide valuable information that will improve quality of life for everyone regardless of their age.”
“We are working to make the event as safe as possible with indoor and outdoor exhibits.  Indoor exhibits will be spread out to help with crowding issues.  We will follow whatever COVID protocols are in place at that time,” noted Schanzenbach.
The Older & Bolder Expo will feature health-related companies, nonprofits and senior service providers, as well as others.  Exhibit space is nearly filled.  For companies interested in becoming an exhibitor, please go to: https://web.carlsbad.org/events/Older-Bolder-EXPO-1478/details