Saturday, April 21, 10am – 3pm
Health Screenings, Activities, and Fun for the whole family!
East Ridge Middle School
10 East Ridge Road
Ridgefield CT
* Extended hours & additional parking this year *
Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time for the annual RVNA Health & Wellness Fair. It’s the perfect opportunity to take stock of your health, learn something new, and get a fresh start for the season. Scheduled for Saturday, April 21, from 10am to 3pm at East Ridge Middle School in downtown Ridgefield, the event boasts over 90 exhibitors and has something for everyone in the family.
From health practitioners offering free screenings and valuable information to wellness professionals and community groups providing fun activities and demonstrations, you’re sure to have your health examined, your questions answered, and your interest piqued. The event brings together RVNA’s clinicians with other local experts in traditional medicine, alternative therapies, and integrative health. It is made possible through the generous donations of sponsors, including BMW of Ridgefield, Maplewood Senior Living, and Boehringer Ingelheim, among others.
Free Screenings and Expertise from Head to Toe
Free onsite screenings include vision and hearing exams, a mini mental health evaluation, and blood pressure, carotid artery, and lung function testing. Concerned about sun exposure? Come for a free skin cancer screening. Looking to improve your running performance – how about a gait analysis or foot exam? You’ll receive detailed test results that you can take with you – no fee, no appointment, and no insurance card needed!
Have a burning health question? Just “Ask the Expert.” There will be audiologists, dermatologists, doctors, doulas, orthopedists, podiatrists, and RVNA’s own registered dietitian, Meg Whitbeck, onsite to answer questions and offer expertise. If stress is your thing, and you’re looking to add a bit of Zen to your hectic life, try out a chair massage, learn about dry needle acupuncture, explore meditation and stress relief treatments, or spend some time with a pet therapy dog.
RVNA: Host and Exhibitor
In addition, RVNA’s nurses will be offering cholesterol, glucose, and anemia testing. Physical therapists from Rehab by RVNA will provide balance testing and exercise tips to keep you rock steady. HomeCare by RVNA, which offers non-medical homecare services, and the newly developing Hospice by RVNA will both be on hand to provide information on services available to families and their loved ones who need help at home or are facing life-limiting illness.
RVNAhealth will also be accepting donations of healthy, non-perishable food items for its Food Pantry, which helps provide food for its homebound patients in need.
Serious Fun, All at the Same Time
Without a doubt, the RVNA Health & Wellness Fair is always an enjoyable and enlightening day for the community. But, for some people, it can be life changing. “Every year, at least one person’s life is saved by the RVNA Health & Wellness Fair,” says Barbara Newland, RVNAhealth Director of Business and Community Partnerships. “At last year’s Fair alone, there were over 150 referrals for medical care because of notable screening results. In previous years, a pre-cancerous lesion was discovered during a skin cancer screening, and a blocked carotid artery was found in a middle-aged man. It’s wonderful to be able to have such an immediate effect on someone’s health,” Newland adds.
Community service organizations participating in this year’s event include Rides for Ridgefield, Meals on Wheels of Ridgefield, BLAST Lyme Disease Prevention, the Connecticut chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association of America, the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, ROAR, and more. The Ridgefield Fire Department will be offering hands-only CPR instruction; Ben’s Bells will have a fun activity for adults and children alike; and various senior living communities will be there to provide information and answer questions.
“RVNAhealth has been caring for the community for over 100 years, and the Health & Wellness Fair has been an important part of our history,” says Newland. “We’re proud to be able to bring so many dedicated professionals together in one place and encourage everyone to take advantage of what the day has to offer.”
And it’s all Free!
The RVNA Health & Wellness Fair is free, open to the public, and no appointments are necessary. Ample parking is available at East Ridge Middle School, and additional parking is available St. Andrew’s Church (6 Ivy Hill Road), Winter Garden Ice Arena (111 Prospect Ridge), RVNAhealth (27 Governor Street), and Veterans Park Elementary School (8 Governor Street). Complimentary shuttle service will be provided by Ridgefield Crossings and Riva’s Rides.
