The 14th annual "Empowering Seniors" exposition is taking place Thursday in Fort Worth. Tarrant County Commissioner Gary Fickes launched the conference at the Hurst Conference Center; the event has since moved to the Amon Carter Exhibits Hall at Will Rogers in Fort Worth.
Fickes spent 18 years on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, wrapping up his last term in January. He passed away in July.
"We would be remiss if we didn't remember him and give him a lot of credit," says Matt Krause, who was elected to the same spot on the commissioners court this year. "This was his brainchild. This was what he started."
Krause now hosts the event with Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare. Krause says Empowering Seniors draws more than 2,500 people and 190 companies, non-profits and other organizations.
"We want to make it very convenient for them just to be able to come, get information and also get services at the Empowering Seniors event itself," Krause says.
Krause says the different organizations make the exposition a "one stop shop" for seniors to learn about the variety of services they can use.
"This is just such an awesome opportunity for those in our community to come to one location and have all these services and opportunities," he says. "I can't tell you how many people have come to me and said, 'My favorite thing your office has done is Empowering Seniors. We always leave with more information; we always leave educated.'"
Health screenings are available from organizations like Baylor Scott and White, the Moncrief Cancer Institute/UT Southwestern and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital. Workshops include fraud awareness, fall prevention and cooking demonstrations by Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.
The event and parking are free; Empowering Seniors also provides lunch, activities and door prizes. Krause says groups can register, and the county is sending buses to help people reach the event, saying Empowering Seniors can give people a chance to make connections.
"We're trying to make sure if you want to be there that you can get there," he says. "We hope a lot of our citizens show up. It should be educational, but it should be a lot of fun as well."
Empowering Seniors runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Amon G. Carter Exhibits Hall at Will Rogers. Registration is requested but not required. More information is available at https://www.empoweringseniors.com/.