ANDERSON — Between 150 to 200 Anderson senior citizens received health and hobby information from 28 local vendors Saturday at the first Bob Highsmith Senior Expo, according to Anderson Police officer Chad Boynton.
“It gives the police department the opportunity to let seniors know we’re here for all members of the community, no matter age or neighborhood,” Boynton said.
The expo, sponsored by the Anderson Police Department, was an effort to give seniors more than they might get at the typical senior health fair, Boynton said. Vendor booths at the Geater Center distributed information about many topics, from community organizations, such as the YMCA to senior homes.
“It was very informative,” said Nila Youngman, 75, who visited with seven other seniors from the Anderson Primrose Retirement home.
Boynton said the Community division decided to name the event after Highsmith for his dedication to the senior community. His wife, Sollye Highsmith, recounted how Bob Highsmith fell and broke his neck in 1997 and used wheelchairs and walkers to get around. She said she thinks her husband liked to work with seniors because he identified with their needs.
“He had such a good sense of humor that he could even make the older people feel comfortable,” said Bob Highsmith’s sister-in-law Sheila Martin.
Bob Highsmith was a retired officer of the Gary police department and moved with his wife in 1999 to Anderson, where he worked with the police department’s SeniorLink program, a program that works with seniors who are homebound or don’t have much family in the area.
Boynton said officers make an initial visit to the interested senior in order to collect general and health information. Then, volunteers make contact with the senior on a regular basis to check on them and put an emergency medical information kit on the refrigerator.
Officers presented Sollye Highsmith and Lucille Highsmith – Bob Highsmith’s mother – with a mahogany clock plaque and an embroidered afghan in memory of Bob Highsmith. His family said he would’ve been shocked he’d been there.
“In his wildest dreams, he would never believe this,” said Lucille Highsmith.
Contact Christina M. Wright, 640-4883, christina.wright@heraldbulletin.com.
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November 7, 2009
Expo named for late APD officer
Seniors get health, community information at event
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