Health Checks expo reduces barriers

Finding information on health-care services can be difficult with an abundance of resources available, and that’s why Meryl Orth organizes the annual Health Checks Health and Wellness Expo.

Health Checks brings together health professionals and organizations from across Manitoba into a “one-stop shopping centre where (people) can find out everything,” Orth said in an interview before the event.

The expo — which was held at the Keystone Centre on Tuesday — had 55 organizations and businesses present with information packages, interactive modules and a wide range of resources covering a variety of health-related topics.

Orth has helped organize the expo since it was established eight years ago. She says knowing how important the event is to people is her incentive to continue organizing it.

“The systems are sometimes very difficult to navigate,” Orth said. “We’re trying to sort of reduce the barriers that people face.”

Orth said having all the information available in one spot helps people before they reach the “crisis stage” with their health.

“One thing I’ve really found out is people do not know what services are available,” she said, identifying the difficulties people have accessing services as a gap in senior care.

“We find out what the gaps are, and we try and eliminate the barriers,” she said.

Some of the information available to seniors at the event covered topics such as mental health care after receiving a diagnosis, funeral planning and arrangements, and active living styles.

A healthy aging panel was held with several medical professionals specializing in geriatric care, including the former chief provincial public health officer, Dr. Michael Routledge.

Representatives from Prairie Mountain Health, Brandon Regional Health Centre and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association were there with information on services, fundraising and administering hearing tests and health screening self-assessments.

“Trying to understand how to navigate the health system … then finding out what’s available, and then how to navigate what you need to do and what you need to know, that’s really important,” Orth said.

“The impetus that really keeps us going is the support from the community.”

» rgerrard@brandonsun.com