By Nancy Weaver Teichert, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Oct. 15--The Sacramento region's four largest health care systems will join together Saturday to offer a bonanza of free health screenings to thousands in search of a healthier old age.
Health experts from more than 70 community organizations will lead workshops and staff exhibit booths with information on heart disease, weight control, cancer, high cholesterol and other health issues, services worth an estimated $200,000.
'It's free, it's quick and a lot of people don't want to ask their doctor for these tests,' said Carole Cory, assistant director of community relations for the California Department of Aging.
The Regional Healthy Aging Summit will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Exposition Center of Cal Expo. It is free to people of all ages.
More than 4,000 people attended the first summit in 2001, put on by the Healthy Aging Coalition of Northern California. Last year, the African American, Asian American and Latino communities were targeted for special summits that served 4,000 more.
The UC Davis Health System, Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente and Catholic Healthcare West/ Mercy hospitals are donating the health services.
The free cholesterol test alone could save people from $5 to $15 that they might have to pay elsewhere, said Leslie Sandberg, chair of the coalition and chief liaison officer for the UC Davis Health System.
It's unusual to have 70 nonprofit organizations and four systems in a competitive managed care climate collaborate for such an event, said Sandberg. The American Society on Aging has honored the summit for its services.
Screenings will be available for breast and skin cancer, cholesterol, bone density, diabetes, blood pressure, stroke, memory loss, depression, dental, vision, hearing and respiratory issues.
Cory said some older people may be hesitant to take up their doctor's time on issues that they can get addressed at the summit.
'For a lot of seniors there's a sense of having some instant results and information given them,' she said.
The summit will begin with a 1-mile walk led by Helen Klein, an 80-year-old marathon runner from Rancho Cordova.
Retired football coach Herman Boone, whose efforts at integrating his high school team inspired the movie 'Remember the Titans,' will speak about diversity.
Some workshops will be available in Spanish and Hmong, and entertainment from various cultures will be performed.
Information on alternative or complementary medical practices such as acupuncture and massage also will be provided.
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(c) 2003, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
