Senior Resources Fair offers services, information to locals

About 100 senior citizens and 20 agencies participated in Rep. John Garamendi's Senior Resources Fair Thursday at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. The three-hour event included workshops on insurance, as well as scams and frauds that target seniors. Peggy Pellon represented the local Area Agency on Aging. The agency strives to make it to all events such as the resource fair, she said. "It's an opportunity to do outreach to seniors and diverse cultures," she said. Some seniors aren't aware of the services the Area Agency on Aging offers, including depression screening. As one ages, there are a lot of losses to cope with, Pellon said. Whether it be the loss of a spouse, health or even financial means, that can cause isolation and depression, she said. Garamendi thanked the participating agencies, noting that the fair was just a continuation of the work they do on a daily basis. He spoke about becoming the state's insurance commissioner in 1991 and noted since that time, there has been progress made on senior insurance issues but there is still work to be done. It was the workshop by Garamendi staffer Karen Tedford that got Vacaville resident Rose Castles, 79, to the event. "I am so worried about it," she said about fraud. "It's everywhere." Tedford shared stories of seniors who were fraud and/or scam victims. She cautioned them to never pay for anything they didn't order, not to carry their Social Security card in their wallet and to check their credit reports. Census statistics show that Solano County is home to nearly 40,000 people who are 65 and older. Last year, Garamendi held a Senior Resources Fair in Antioch.