Burlington County seniors should reserve June 14 on their calendars. The Burlington County Senior Expo is making its return that day and it’s expected to be bigger than ever.
The event offers county residents of all ages the opportunity to undergo free health screenings, shred documents, meet adoptable pets and learn more about the multitude of services offered by Burlington County and other government agencies and community providers.
This year’s expo will be the 21st organized by the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office, Burlington County Commissioners and Burlington County Office on Aging, and the first since 2019. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Masonic Village Fellowship Center, 1114 Oxmead Road in Burlington Township.
“Senior citizens make Burlington County their home because of all the wonderful activities, programs and businesses we have here, so we want to ensure that they can access the information they need about services and resources that can benefit them and their families,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson. “The Senior Expo is the perfect place to learn about services from our county and our many community, and state partners.”
Burlington County Sheriff James Kostoplis said the expo provides a clearinghouse of information that can be useful for seniors and residents of all ages.
“The Senior Expo brings together dozens of agencies and organizations whose representatives can answer questions on all kinds of topics, ranging from home security, tax relief programs and health care to nutrition, transportation and recreational opportunities,” Sheriff Kostoplis said. “It’s going to be a very informative event and we’re thrilled to bring it back following a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
This year’s Senior Expo is expected to feature numerous departments, agencies and providers, including the Burlington County Board of Social Services, Burlington County Clerk’s Office, Burlington County Surrogate, Burlington County Health Department, Burlington County Animal Shelter, Burlington County Division of Military and Veteran’s Services, New Jersey Attorney General’s Office Division of Consumer Affairs, New Jersey Division of Taxation, Rowan College at Burlington County, Sen-Han Transit services, Moorestown Visiting Nurses Association, Virtua Health and many more.
Tote bags and lunch will also be provided to the first 500 seniors who attend, and there will also be raffles and door prizes.
A paper shredding truck will be on site to shred and recycle unwanted documents, and the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office will also be making senior identification cards and collecting non-activated cell phones for the office’s 911 Cell Phone Program.
The cell phones will be reprogrammed to call 911 and are distributed for free to seniors to have as an emergency resource inside and outside their homes.
The Sheriff’s Office will also have information at the expo about other community services, including the Senior Police Academy and Home Security and Safety Inspections program.
During the academy, participating seniors attend weekly classes and learn more about law enforcement and safety issues, including consumer fraud, home security and First Aid.
Last year, 65 seniors participated in the Sheriff’s fall academy in Mount Laurel.
All Burlington County seniors are eligible to enroll. The upcoming spring academy will be held at the Bordentown Senior Citizen Club on Municipal Drive for consecutive Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. beginning on April 11 through May 16. Space is limited, so seniors should call the Community Outreach Unit at (609) 265-5785 to register.
Home security and safety inspections are offered by the Sheriff’s Office free to Burlington County seniors and residents with disabilities. During the inspections, a specialist goes through a resident’s home and then makes recommendations for various safety or security improvements or modifications.
The specialists will provide and install some security items at no charge, including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, door and window locks, emergency lights and door viewers (peepholes).
Last year, the Sheriff’s Office performed 127 security inspections and another 57 homes have been checked so far in 2023. To register for an inspection, call (609) 265-5796.
“Keeping Burlington County residents safe is our top priority and the Senior Citizen Academy and home security inspections are important services our office offers to advance that mission,” said Kostoplis. “Both are designed to give seniors the knowledge and resources they need to remain safe during emergencies and to protect themselves from violence, accidents, scams or other crimes.”
