Come see us at the East Hampton Health Expo
Featuring great presentations and
over 50+ health resource vendors!
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: East Hampton High School (East Hampton, CT)
Admission: Free for all ages (includes free refreshments and free vaccinations)
Sponsor: East Hampton Commission on Aging
Presentation topics and times:
11:00 AM
1) Is it Dementia or Depression? Join Dr. Morgan to learn how to tell dementia and depression apart and to understand how a diagnosis reshapes family interactions and how best to cope. Dr. Harry E. Morgan is a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist practicing at The Center for Geriatric and Family Psychiatry in Glastonbury, CT. He has a Harvard Medical School degree and has more than 50 years’ experience in the medical field.
2) Osteoporosis and Bone Health: Dr. Mirza will talk about osteoporosis, its adverse consequences, who needs screening, and will describe non-prescription treatments (e.g., calcium, Vitamin D, weight-bearing exercise) as well as medications. She will discuss the risks and benefits of medications and the challenges that many of the medications may pose (daily injections, risks of jaw necrosis, etc.) Dr. Faryal Mirza is Professor of Medicine, Clinical Director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and the Director for Osteoporosis Clinic at UConn Health. She is actively involved in teaching medical students, residents and fellows, and also serves as the Clerkship Director for the Ambulatory Medicine Clerkship, UConn School of Medicine, and as key clinical faculty for the endocrine fellowship program.
3) Aging in Place, Accessory Dwelling Units. Jake DePierro will provide an all-you-need-to-know overview of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) supporting independent living at home. We'll cover local zoning rules, the design and build process, timeline and cost information, and examples of locally-delivered ADUs. Jake DePierro is Vice President of Southern New England Modular Living, a Home & Accessory Dwelling builder serving Connecticut & Rhode Island since 1986.
Noon
4) Advances in Alzheimer Treatment. Dr. Hyacinth will discuss the advances in treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease. Marilise A. Hyacinth, MD, PhD joined Middlesex Hospital in August 2017 as a General Adult and Geriatric Psychiatrist. In early 2018, she became the Adult Outpatient Medical Director for the Center for Behavioral Health at Middlesex Hospital. She sees older adults in the Intensive Outpatient Program as well as in the outpatient clinic. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale and teaches Yale and UConn medical students at Middlesex Health.
5) Living Your Best Life: How Palliative Care and Hospice Can Help Palliative care and its specialty, hospice, focus on helping people live as fully and comfortably as possible while supporting their caregivers. Palliative care can benefit patients of any age, at any stage of illness, and alongside any treatment goals from managing symptoms and stress to helping patients and families navigate complex decisions. Susan Daniels, MSN RN CHPN is the Hospice and Palliative Resource Nurse Coordinator for Middlesex Health. For the past eighteen years, she has worked in home care, helping people with serious illnesses and their families live their best lives.
6) GLP-1s: Are they right for you? Dr. Selinger will discuss the pros and cons of using GLP-1s for weight loss as well their therapeutic benefits for other conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular issues, Sleep Apnea, Addictions.
Dr. Howard A. Selinger graduated from the University of Pennsylvania medical school and did a residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Family Medicine. He practiced for 42 years, retiring in 2025. He continues to teach at Quinnipiac University’s Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
7) Public and Personal Safety. Police Chief Dennis Woessner, Fire Chief Robb Rainville, Fire Marshall Richard Klotzbier and Ambulance Chief of Service Chris Wherry will convene to offer an in-depth look at public safety. Chief Woessner will talk about safety in the home, scams and medical and other emergencies. Fire Marshall Klotzbier will focus on the safe use, storage and charging of devices powered by lithium batteries, such as phones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, power tools, etc. Chief Rainville will talk about how the volunteer fire department works and assists the community. Chief Wherry will discuss how the ambulance association is staffed, the call statistics, and what to expect when you call an ambulance.
Police Chief Dennis Woessner has been chief in East Hampton for eight-and-a-half years. Previously, he spent 30 years with the Glastonbury Police Department, retiring at the rank of Captain. East Hampton Fire Marshal Richard Klotzbier has been the East Hampton Fire Marshal for more than 16 years. His main role is fire prevention, focusing on minimizing fire risks before emergencies occur. Fire Chief Robb Rainville is the Fire Chief of the East Hampton Fire Department, a 100% volunteer organization. A firefighter for more than 15 years and a certified firefighter instructor, Chief Rainville is passionate about training, recruitment, firefighter safety, and strengthening the volunteer fire service. He also serves on the Connecticut State Firefighters Association Executive Committee as a County Vice President. Chief of Service Chris Wherry for East Hampton Ambulance Association is a certified EMT, fire fighter, and is certified in Tactical Emergency Casualty Care. He lives in Marlborough and serves as the recue lieutenant for the Marlborough Volunteer Dept.
1:00 PM
8) Wills, Estate Planning, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, and more: Join Steven M. Basche, JD as he discusses wills and estate planning, living wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, probate, elder law, and leaving a statement of values.
Steven M. Basche has practiced law in Connecticut for 40 years. Since 2010, his practice has been focused on estate planning, probate, and elder law. Steve has offices in Glastonbury and West Hartford.
9) Nutrition for Healthy Aging: What Do We Really Need as We Get Older? Christopher Blancarte RDN, discusses how our nutritional needs change as we move through middle age and beyond. With so much conflicting advice, it can be hard to know what really matters. This practical, evidence-based talk will explore protein needs, foods to prioritize, and whether supplements such as creatine, collagen and colostrum (and more!) are worth taking. We’ll also look at vegetarian, vegan and omnivorous diets and what the evidence tells us about eating well for healthy aging.
Christopher Blancarte is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who focuses on making nutrition science practical, approachable, and easier to understand. His approach emphasizes cutting through misinformation and fear-based nutrition messaging to help people evaluate health claims with greater confidence and make informed choices based on evidence rather than hype.
10) Medical Marijuana: Is cannabis or CBD for you? Join a physician, a pharmacist and the state’s cannabis ombudsman as they provide you with all you need to know about the state’s palliative marijuana program and if it could help you.
Erin Gorman Kirk, Esquire, Appointed the first-in-the-nation Cannabis Ombudsman, Erin safeguards patient interests and collaborates with stakeholders to strengthen the state’s palliative marijuana program and advance compassionate, equity-focused policy. Uzma Zakir, RPh, is a pioneering pharmacist who witnessed the opioid crisis firsthand, driving her passion for natural healing with plant medicines. As a dispensary pharmacist and cannabis educator in Connecticut, Uzma has significantly influenced the state’s industry. She integrates internal medicine with cannabinoid therapeutics at her practice Bloom Higher. Dr. Mitch Prywes is a board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician who has practiced Integrative Medicine and Integrative Pain Management for more than 35 years. He is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Since 2015, he has served on the state's Medical Marijuana Program Board of Physicians. Recently retired from full-time practice, he brings a clinician's perspective to the increasingly complex landscape of cannabis, CBD, pain management, and healthy aging.
2:00 PM
11) Healthy Aging & Longevity. Dr. Patrick Coll will discuss life expectancy and healthy lifespan as well as steps to take to live longer including the prevention of cancer, infection, trauma and cardiovascular disease. He will also talk about ways to be healthy longer including dementia prevention, and the preservation of mobility and the senses. He will cover exercise, nutrition and supplements.
Dr. Patrick Coll is a geriatrician and Professor of Family Medicine and Medicine at UConn Health where he has been on the faculty for more than 30 years. He is also Medical Director for Senior Health at UConn Health. He has published a textbook on Healthy Aging and has a particular interest in what older adults should do and what they should avoid so that they can remain as healthy and as independent as possible.
12) Long Term Care at Home or in a Nursing Home. Alison Dvorak and Mairead Painter will discuss how to evaluate a home care service or nursing home and how to assess the quality of your loved one’s care. What signs show that a program is good and what are warning signs (red flags) to watch for. What steps can you take if care falls short? When do you contact an ombudsman for help?
Alison Dvorak is the Executive Director for Senior Resources, Agency on Aging, covering 56 towns and the 2 tribal nations of Eastern Connecticut. She works collaboratively with Aging CT to support aging with dignity through the development and management of federal, state and other funded programs such as the Senior Nutrition Program, Medicare, Elder Justice, Caregiver Support and others. She is a Registered Dietitian with over 30 years’ experience working with older adults and caregivers. Mairead Painter was appointed state Long Term Care Ombudsman in 2018. She serves more than 30,000 individuals in skilled long term care nursing facilities, residential care homes, and assisted living/managed residential communities. As State Ombudsman, she advocates for individuals as well as elevating the voices and lived experiences of people receiving long-term services and supports to identify systemic barriers and advance person-centered policy, legislation and practice.
13) Fall Prevention: What’s Exercise have to do with it? Ashley Sabol will discuss how to help everyone stay safe and live healthier. Often when people fall, it's the first step in a steep downward slide in their health. This program will cover why this is, why falls are so common, and what people can do to prevent falls, including exercises to prevent falls and practical ways to make your home safer. It will also cover what to do if you do fall.
Ashley Sabol has been a physical therapist a physical therapist at Middlesex Health since 2021. She is an expert on fall prevention and balance retraining and also has specialties in Parkinson’s Disease and in pelvic health.