As retirement and healthcare costs increase and regulations continue to change, an August event aims to bring together experts to answer questions about Medicare, financial planning, wellness and aging at home.

Retirement planning is like trying to put together a puzzle without seeing the picture on the box, said Kadie Jeziorowski, director of business development with KoreTask, a new concierge-style service business to help people at home.

Healthcare, finance and healthy living are all interlocking pieces of the puzzle that often aren’t discussed collectively, Jeziorowski said.

To help change that, she’s organized the Lifestyle & Longevity Forum, set for noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Hampton Inn at 486 Bradley Blvd. in Richland. The forum is free to attend, though RSVPs are required, and a free lunch will be provided by CG Public House.

Proactive planning

Jeziorowski has worked in roles related to aging for 11 years, from a physical therapy assistant specializing in geriatrics to running a durable medical equipment company to working in private home care.

“And every single job I’ve had, I’ve realized that there’s quite a large gap of knowledge of what’s to come when you retire,” she said, from knowing what Medicare and health insurance cover and how to avoid chronic issues to the costs of aging.

The Lifestyle & Longevity Forum will bring together local organizations from the insurance, Medicare, wellness and financial planning sectors for a conversation with attendees about future planning.

Jeziorowski said she wanted the forum to be proactive and preventative, so it’s aimed at those 40 and older. Those in their 40s can use the information to help plan their own future while also learning how to support their parents or other family members.

For those who are older, it’s not too late to have a conversation about the future – and the forum has useful information to offer, Jeziorowski said.

Having conversations

Speakers will include representatives from New York Life, We Know Medicare, Alpha III Wealth Management, The PC, a holistic pain management and functional wellness business, and KoreTask.

Jeziorowski said she selected the speakers because they were people she had worked with before and trusted. She hopes they will address gaps they commonly see in their industries, explain topics people often misunderstand and share success stories from those they have helped.

“Let’s not talk about what people probably do know,” Jeziorowski said. “Let’s talk about what they don’t know, and what they’ve seen the most in their specific industry.”

Another important part of the forum is conversation: There will be time for attendees to ask questions and learn more about the various organizations’ services.

It’s about coming away with tangible information rather than signing up for services.

“I do what I do to help people,” she said. “Of course, I hope you’ll be my client, but sometimes I’m just not the right one to help you. But let me connect you with the right one who is, because that’s my goal here.”

If the event is successful, Jeziorowski hopes to run it again, maybe even on a quarterly basis.

KoreTask

Jeziorowski will talk about KoreTask, which is not exactly home care but rather strives to fill the gap for those who need some help with groceries, laundry or housekeeping but not for the number of hours home care provides.

Using an artificial intelligence-integrated website and app, clients can pick the services they need and the frequency, while a salaried coordinator with those skillsets is matched to the client.

KoreTask hasn’t launched just yet, but by Aug. 7, the business’s website and app will be live, opening the service to its first beta users.

RSVPs are required to attend the free forum. Contact Jeziorowski at 509-271-7601 or via email at [email protected].