On Thursday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, the East County Senior Coalition will host its seventh annual Senior Health and Information Mini-Fair at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Oakley.

Sutter Delta Medical Center and Nightingale Home Care will offer free health screenings for high cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and pulmonary function. Nurses will be available to refer people whose test results are abnormal to a local practitioner.

Representatives from more than 20 health and social services organizations will provide information and medical referrals about housing, health care and transportation issues. Medicare counselors will also be on hand to answer questions about the Part D prescription plan.

Health fairs are a way to detect diseases that sometimes go undiagnosed and untreated for long periods of time, according to Harriet Zych, site manager for Oakley's Brown Bag program.

"Many (East County seniors) don't have insurance, and they rarely get to see a doctor," she said.

At one of the mini-fairs several years ago, Zych discovered she had high blood sugar. A doctor subsequently diagnosed her as diabetic.

The East County Senior Health Coalition also offers services for Alzheimer's and memory disorders, both prevalent among the elderly.

The fair also serves a social function for the elderly, some of whom are isolated.

"The fair will give people the opportunity to socialize with friends and family," said Zych. "It's sad that Oakley does not have a facility for seniors, but hopefully we'll get one built in the future."

This year the fair will be held on a Brown Bag Day, and free bags of groceries will be distributed.

Transportation to Thursday's Mini-Fair is available via Tri Delta buses #391 and #383. Refreshments will be served, and all are welcome to attend. For more information, call 978-2754.