Older adults, caregivers and family members filled the Sheraton LaGuardia East in Flushing on Tuesday, Oct. 27, for a day dedicated to healthy aging, wellness and community resources. Attendees connected with experts and organizations offering guidance on healthcare, caregiving, benefits, wellness programs, social services and other issues that impact older adults' quality of life, often in their preferred language.

They came for Schneps Media’s fourth annual Healthy Aging and Wellness Expo, presented by VillageCareMAX , where speakers and exhibitors broke down healthcare coverage, prevention and care in plain terms.

VillageCareMAX health plans serve around 40,000 Medicare and Medicaid members, largely in New York City. The organization has made the expo an annual commitment to the Flushing community.

“This expo is about more than providing information. It's about connecting older adults, caregivers and families with the resources, services and support they need to live healthier, more independent lives,” VillageCare President and CEO Shaun Ruskin said. “When we bring trusted organizations together in one place, we help strengthen the entire community.”

“We’re educating,” VillageCare Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Fernandez said. “We’re having a presence when there is confusion among our elderly.”

New York State Sen. John Liu said a growing older population makes that presence more pressing every year. “For a long time, the older adult population has been fast growing. As such, we need more services to keep people healthy,” Liu said. “That’s why this VillageCareMAX/Schneps Media event has become a tradition. We’ve got many vendors providing services, some on the spot.”

In Queens, where dozens of nationalities and languages share the same blocks, speaking someone’s native language can make all the difference. Chinese alone spans many dialects, and VillageCareMAX has built its team around that reality.

“One of our greatest strengths is that our staff reflects the diversity of the communities we serve,” Ruskin said. “Many of our team members speak the same languages as our members and understand their cultures firsthand, helping us build trust and ensure people can access care and support in the language they're most comfortable with.”

“When people can communicate in their preferred language and feel understood, they're more likely to engage in their care and access the support available to them,” Fernandez said. “That's why we've built a team that reflects the communities we serve and can meet members where they are.”

That commitment reaches well beyond the expo floor. VillageCareMAX runs community centers, including one at 41-80 Main St. in Flushing, that support members and offer information to the general public.

“That’s where our community centers have the opportunity to educate and truly become a trusted resource,” Fernandez said. “We have piloted and implemented several things in our plan in our community centers, by listening to our members.”

For VillageCareMAX members, getting help does not mean working through a maze. “We understand our members’ needs in the community. You have access to the leadership and staff at our Plan,” Fernandez said. “You are not going through layers to get things resolved.”

Prevention sits at the center of that approach, improving lives while keeping members out of the hospital. VillageCareMAX hosts events where members can get hearing and vision tests, mammograms and dental work.

“Preventive care is at the heart of what we do,” Fernandez said. “Through ongoing collaboration with our physicians, we continually look for ways to improve health outcomes, reduce avoidable hospitalizations and help our members maintain their quality of life in the communities they call home.”

In the end, she said, it comes down to people. “What truly defines our organization is our people and the connections they make every day. By listening closely to our members and working hand-in-hand with providers, we're able to deliver care that is personal, responsive and centered on each individual's needs.”