It’s a health fair, with a twist. 

Barrington’s first-ever “Aging Optimally” symposium on Jan. 24 will offer a bit more than most typical health fairs. 

In addition to featuring nearly two dozen vendors who work in the health-related industry, the event will also offer a keynote speaker who will discuss brain resilience, additional speakers, a relaxing musical performance, raffles, and more.

Michele Geremia, the director of Barrington’s Peck Center for Adult Enrichment, helped organize “Aging Optimally: the capacity to function across many domains—physical, functional, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual—to one’s satisfaction and in spite of one’s medical conditions.” 

She said she is very excited about the event. 

“I was thinking about doing a health fair, but I wanted it to be more up-lifting,” she said. “I want to think about aging optimally, because that’s where I am in life.

“I think it’s going to be an exciting day. My initial thought was this would be good for me, so it must be good for everyone else.”

Geremia said Aging Optimally will offer a wide variety of vendors, ranging from a travel agency to a hearing assistance company. There will also be three half-hour presentations — one is by a business called “Pack Lightly”; another will offer tips on staying healthy and fit through diet and exercise; and the third is focused on birding. 

“We want to get people thinking about what will enrich their lives,” Geremia said, adding that a master gardener will have a booth at the symposium as will a bicycle company. 

The keynote speaker is Theresa Fogerty, a community outreach coordinator for Lifespan who works in the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center. Forgerty will share an-hour long presentation focused on resilient brain health — Geremia said the discussion will be interactive and fun for the audience members. 

“I really want to see Theresa Fogerty,” Geremia added. 

The full-day symposium will also include boxed lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and a coffee break from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m.

Geremia said there will also be a musical performance by Joanne Lurgio from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. 

“We’ve had her here (in the Peck Center for Adult Enrichment) several times,” Geremia said. “She’s somewhat familiar, and she’s great. She’s very interactive with the audience. I want to end on an upbeat, fun note. She’ll perform in the auditorium.”

Following the musical performance, there will be raffles. Geremia said people will be entered in the raffles if they are able to fill out their punch cards by a certain number of vendors. 

Raffle gifts include movie tickets, gift cards to restaurants and local stores, and other items. 

Geremia said there is a suggested donation of $10 but it is not a requirement. Attendees should register by calling the Peck Center for Adult Enrichment at 247-1926.

Geremia said the event is open to everyone, although attendance is limited to 75 people. She said she hopes the event will be well-attended. 

“If the community comes out, it will be bigger and better next year,” she said. 

Geremia said her co-workers, Kelly Fenton and Tiffany Hayek, have helped a lot with organizing “Aging Optimally.”