La Fetra Center Offers Free Health Screenings

While cost of living continues to rise and the state proposes cuts to elderly benefits, the La Fetra Center is one city resource striving to offer free or low cost support programs for the community’s growing senior population.

The La Fetra Senior Center is hosting a free health information fair Thursday 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Sage Room at the La Fetra Center, 333 E. Foothill Blvd. The fair will also offer an opportunity for senior residents to receive free health screenings from health care providers across the San Gabriel Valley, including screenings for carotid artery, lung capacity, memory, bone density, blood pressure and flu shots.

According to program coordinator Tina Novodoczky, the health fair will provide a variety of free health information and resources for the senior community. Thirty-six organizations such as the Social Security Administration Center, Glendora Transportation, Glendora Housing Program, East Valley Hospital and Foothill Presbyterian Physical Therapy will be at the fair.

In Glendora, . Data from the five-year American Community Survey released in December 2010 show Glendora's senior population has jumped from 12.5 percent in 2000 to 14 percent in 2010. City figures project that residents over the age of 65 will continue to increase to 15 percent by the year 2015.

According to human service superintendent Debbie Dozal, the center, which serves 3,000 senior residents, has received far more requests for free or low cost services than previous years.

“The current economy and the fact that Glendora is aging at a higher rate than the rest of the city contributes to the rising demand,” said Dozal. “We do our best to accommodate the need.”

The center hosts a variety of classes, events and programs focused on the senior community. For more information on available services and opportunities at the La Fetra Center, visit the center’s Web site.

For more information on the health fair, call 626-914-8235.