Please join us for the 2024 Healthy Aging Fair. This is a free event that will be held from 9AM to 12PM on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at the Iowa City Senior Center, 28 South Linn Street, Iowa City. Explore resources, services, and organizations helpful in planning for a healthy, safe, and active lifestyle during older adult years. This year's event also features a Dementia Friends information session on supporting loved ones with dementia, a presentation on nutrition for healthy aging, an interactive demonstration of Tai Chi to help reduce falls, and an opportunity for participation with Laughter Club to experience the healing effects of laughter.

Parking is available at the Tower Place and Parking Ramp, 335 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240 and you may enter the Senior Center by the connected skywalk on Level 3A.
Participants attending the Healthy Aging Fair are eligible for a voucher that provides two free hours of parking at the Tower Place parking garage, starting after the first hour, which is free. Volunteers will be available throughout the building to assist with directions on how to receive the vouchers. Please note that these parking vouchers can only be redeemed during a limited time window.

Schedule of Events

9-10AM- Dementia Friends Presentation

You become a Dementia Friend by attending a one-hour informational session to learn about living with dementia, and the simple things you can do to support someone living with the disease.

The free one-hour session is a discussion led by a Dementia Friends Champion. You’ll learn some basics of dementia such as what dementia is, what it’s like to live with the disease, and some tips for communicating with people who have dementia. Everyone who attends is asked to turn their new understanding of dementia into a practical action that can help someone living in your community. The action can be as big or as small as you choose—every action counts!

10-10:45AM- Laughter Club

Laughter helps to relieve the effects of stress.It is energizing, healing, and brings out our best self. When we laugh together, we feel lighter and renewed. Come and experience the laughter club.

10:15-11AM- Nutrition Presentation

Need to eat lower sodium foods or possibly wanting to increase fruit and vegetable intake?  Join Iowa City VA Registered Dietitians for a discussion about healthy recipes sources.  Participants will be provided online resources available to Veterans and non-Veterans.

11:15-12PM- Interactive Tai Chi Presentation

An art embracing the mind, body and spirit – Originating in ancient China, tai chi is one of the most effective exercises for health of mind and body. Although an art with great depth of knowledge and skill, it can be easy to learn and soon delivers its health benefits. For many, it continues as a lifetime journey. There are many styles and forms of tai chi, the major ones being Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu (different words in Chinese) and Sun. Each style has its own features, but all styles share the same essential principles. Chen Wangting developed the Chen Style Tai Chi around 1670. Specifically we will be learning Sun style.

Numerous studies have shown tai chi improves muscular strength, flexibility, fitness, improve immunity, relieve pain and improve quality of life. Muscle strength is important for supporting and protecting joints and is essential for normal physical function. Flexibility exercises enable people to move more easily, and facilitate circulation of body fluid and blood, which enhance healing. Fitness is important for overall functioning of the heart, lungs, and muscles. In addition to these components, Tai Chi movements emphasize weight transference to improve balance and prevent falls.  Almost everyone who practices tai chi recognizes its powerful effect on relaxation and concentration.

If you have questions, please contact Jeff at 319-688-5842 or [email protected]