Life Enrichment Expo offers area residents free attractions

If you're looking for a one-stop shopping experience on all aspects of living a full life after age 50, the place to be this month is the annual Life Enrichment Expo. Scheduled for April 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the MassMutual Room of the Basketball Hall of Fame in downtown Springfield, this year's Expo is shaping up to be one of the biggest and most comprehensive in its 19-year history. This year, more than 60 exhibitors will be on hand to share information with Expo attendees. Exhibitors represent goods and services including estate planning; medical and dental services; educational and volunteer opportunities; retirement and continuing care communities. As always, admission and parking will be free, and the event will be handicapped-accessible. In addition, the Springfield Jewish Community Center will provide van transportation from its Dickinson Street location to the Expo for anyone who needs transportation. The Life Enrichment Expo is presented this year by Health New England, and co-sponsored by the Springfield JCC and PRIME Magazine. Major sponsors for this year's event are NovaCare Rehabilitation, Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice Services, Peoples Bank and CBS3 Springfield (WSHM). "The Life Enrichment Expo is the original event in the Pioneer Valley that serves the needs of adults age 50 and over," Carlin Trietsch, coordinator of the Life Enrichment Expo for the JCC, said. Trietsch said that some of the exhibitors making their first appearance at the Life Enrichment Expo this year are BayState Comprehensive Breast Center, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and MetLife Home Loans. They will join dozens of perennial exhibitors such as the Loomis Communities, Bacon Wilson P.C., Springfield School Volunteers, Louis and Clark Drug & Medical Equipment, and Keystone Woods / Keystone Commons. "There will be so much to see and hear about at the Expo. Each booth will present different information," said Trietsch. "Health New England will be providing the latest information about Medicare Advantage plans, NovaCare Rehabilitation will be providing assessment on balance and grip. There is so much to see and learn." For more information about the upcoming Life Enrichment Expo, please call Carlin Trietsch at the JCC at 739-4715 ext. 325.