Porter County TRIAD connects with community and raises funds for Project Lifesaver at annual health fair

Maintaining good health often requires more than regular doctor visits — it takes access to resources, education, and a strong support system. On Wednesday, June 3, Life Care Center of Valparaiso, along with dozens of local organizations, participated in the TRIAD Health Fair in Central Park Plaza.

This event is about connecting residents and caregivers with services designed to support them throughout every stage of life. Cathy Ellis, hospice liaison for Dunes Hospice, has been affiliated with the event for several years. She views it as a great opportunity to showcase everything that Porter County has to offer for a person’s well-being.

“It’s a great opportunity not just for seniors, but for everyone who attends. Caretakers, their children – everyone can learn about these community resources that are here for them,” Ellis said. “The TRIAD does a wonderful job educating people about Project Lifesaver. Not a lot of people know everything that’s available to them because it’s more than health care.”

Project Lifesaver is a device that transmits a frequency to track someone who is lost or needs assistance. Tricia Catlin, sales and marketing manager for Aviva Valparaiso, believes this device has monumental value for the community should it ever be needed.

“We always want to support our seniors, but we’re also here today to support Project Lifesaver and the TRIAD,” Catlin said. “Project Lifesaver can be used for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or children with autism. If they were to leave, they could contact the sheriff’s department, and they’re able to locate them very quickly.”

The transmitter was shown off at the event through an activity where Porter County Sheriff Jeff Balon went to hide somewhere in the vicinity of Central Park Plaza. A tracking canine was then timed to see how long it took before Balon was found. In total, it took less than two minutes for the canine to find the sheriff.

“Find the Sheriff is a fun event that we do every year. It displays the technology for Project Lifesaver, which is more of a GPS-based system for people in the community who wander or might get lost. It just shows the different things that we use to help out our citizens that are new,” Balon said.

Detective Corporal Mike Steege considers Project Lifesaver the perfect device for people who might have a family member or friend with dementia.

“We live in a technological world nowadays, and dogs have been tracking for years,” Steege said. “It’s a great tool for us. On top of having the dogs rescue and find people, this is simply a lifesaver. This is a very cost-effective, free thing that can help us keep our loved ones in the community safe.”

While health fairs are generally seen as a resource for seniors to figure out the best way to treat a problem with a solution, they’re equally important for caregivers.

“Sometimes, people might think that if you’re not the one directly impacted by an issue then it’s not your place to think about it. This is just as much for the seniors as it is the caregivers,” said Natalie Beare, police social worker. “Having something that’s in a central location where anybody can come and look at all the resources or ask questions helps bring awareness to that population and planning for the stages later in life.”

Organizations like the Life Care Center of Valparaiso offer short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and post-operative recovery to care for loved ones and allow them to live their lives. Ellis appreciates the health fair every year because there are so many different organizations that serve different purposes, with the central theme of improving someone’s health.

“It’s continuity of care – that’s what it’s about,” Ellis said. “Maybe somebody is in assisted living, but then needs to go to a facility like the Life Care Center. Maybe someone needs hospice services or home health care. We have somebody who sells or rents homes and people who help you clean out your home if you’re planning on moving. The health department – they’re doing vaccinations. There are so many different people here to help everybody out, and we’re here to network and educate.”

For more information on the Life Care Center of Valparaiso, you can visit lcca.com/locations/in/valparaiso.