Thrive (formerly Caldwell Senior Center) to host June 25 wellness fair and expands summer programs

Thrive, the organization formerly known as the Caldwell Senior Center, will host an Age Reimagined safety and wellness fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 25 at the Royal Civic Center, April Austin with Thrive said in an interview on Caldwell County Today.

The fair will feature roughly 30–35 vendors, fraud-and-scam presentations from the sheriff's office and a representative from the North Carolina Department of Insurance, a free curbside shred truck, and a pill drop for expired medications. "We have a health fair with about 30 35 different vendors," Austin said, and she highlighted presentations aimed at helping older residents spot investment and Medicare scams.

Why it matters: Austin said the event is intended to give older adults and caregivers practical, local resources — from fraud prevention to safe disposal of personal documents and medications — in one accessible location. Sponsors listed by Austin include Sandstone Health and Rehabilitation, Lenor Health and Rehabilitation, Carolina Rehab Center of Burke and UNCC Health Caldwell, which are providing space and resources for the civic center event.

Beyond the fair, Thrive is running an expanded slate of summer programs. Austin said regular offerings include three weekly morning exercise sessions, a Monday chair exercise class, hula lessons, a Quiddler word game group, hiking outings, a community cleanup volunteer group, and a music ensemble that performs at area long-term-care facilities. "We have so many different things — there's a little something for everybody," Austin said. She also announced new offerings such as a July 17 "walk and talk with the RN" series focused on blood pressure basics and a Thursday watercolor class that started in response to member interest.

The center averages about 110 visitors a day, Austin said, and aims to be a hub for both social activity and practical services for older residents. Counts and Austin encouraged residents to consult Thrive's website, thrive828.com, for full calendars and vendor lists and to attend the June 25 fair, which is free and open to older adults, caregivers and members of the public.

The segment closed with a reminder that volunteers and staff keep a large, updated resource directory to help callers find services quickly; Austin said she and other staff and volunteers have decades of combined experience in senior services.