MARSHALL — Staying at home instead of moving to a nursing home has many advantages to the individual and the community. People are comfortable in their own homes, plus there is the extra cost to the individual and to the community. Helping people stay in their own homes are members from a group of agencies who have partnered together to present a Live Well at Home event, which is from 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Thursday at the Marshall Area YMCA. The event is free and open to all community members. It includes a light breakfast and lunch free of charge. Call Rebekah Reynolds to register at 507-829-1143 or email ace.lyon@co.lyon.mn.us.

The event is an important one and the issue will affect everyone sooner or later, said Reynolds, the aging and volunteer services coordinator for ACE (Advocate Connect Educate).

“By 2030 there will be more people turning 85 than will be turning 18 years of age,” she said.

Reynolds said the cost to services for the elderly will be “astronomical. What are we doing now to support our most vulnerable people? We have to plan now. People are living a long time and need help living in their home as long as they can. That is definitely the big push because we do not have the facilities to accommodate people and it’s much cheaper for everyone to have people live in their own home.”

Thursday’s event is geared to help people live at home for as long as possible.

“I’m really excited about the enthusiasm from the community,” she said. “The partners have pooled dollars and resources to put on this event.”

Reynolds said the day starts out with ongoing virtual dementia tours, where people can get an idea of what it’s like to live with dementia, and exercise demonstrations such as dance and chair yoga. “(YMCA Director) Tom Bolin will talk about the Silver and Fit program — some insurance programs will pay for the membership,” she said.

Other presentations include veterans support.

“Heidi Fier is just phenomenal and has been doing wonders for Lyon County as the VA rep for this area,” Reynolds said. “She’ll be talking about Medicare benefits. It’s geared toward veterans and what they need and Dr. (Ed) Yerka does Skype visits with veterans as a psychologist. So we wanted to make people aware that that is available. It makes it a lot more accessible to people.”

The keynote speaker, Clarissa Dumdei, ANP/GNP, a nurse practitioner at Avera Medical Group Marshall, will speak on memory loss and home health.

Shelly Pflaum from United Community Action Partnership will talk about transportation, getting people to medical appointments and other places.

“They are partnered with us for the volunteer driver program,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said in addition to agencies helping elders stay at home, community members should watch out for one another.

“Take out the garbage, snow removal — these are things neighbors can do,” she said. “A lot of people will turn on their front light if they need help in some sort of way and then a neighbor will come and check on them.”

Volunteerism takes a giant burden off of our tax dollars, she said.

“The hours are tracked and grants are written based off those volunteer hours,” she said. Reynolds coordinates the RSVP volunteer program. She said with additional grants, the agency can offer more programs — a double dip of kindness. “Not only are you providing a service with your volunteering, but you are providing hours that gets more dollars for our community.”

Live Well at Home event is Thursday at YMCA

From 8:30 a.m.-noon: virtual dementia tours; 8:30-9:30 a.m. exercise demonstrations; 9:30-9:45 a.m., Tom Bolin, YMCA: Silver and Fit program; 9:45-10 a.m.: Shelly Pflaum, UCAP transportation. 10:15-10:30 a.m. Rebekah Reynolds, A.C.E. of SW Minnesota; 10:30-10:45 a.m. Dr. Ed Yerka, V.A. psychology services; 10:45-11:30 a.m., keynote speaker: Clarissa Dumdei, ANP/GNP; 11:30 a.m.-noon, Heidi Fier, Lyon County Veterans Services Officer; noon-1 p.m., free soup and salad lunch buffet; 1-3:15 p.m. Community roundtable discussion: “Aging in Lyon County, where are the gaps in services?”

Call Rebekah Reynolds to register at 507-829-1143 or email ace.lyon@co.lyon.mn.us. The event is sponsored by A.C.E., Lyon County Veteran Services and Marshall Area Dementia Awareness Network.