On March 18, the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association's Quality Living at Home partnership is hosting a seminar to help seniors and their loved ones prepare for the future. The free event is being held at the Redding Community Center, 37 Lonetown Road, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

"It's about informing families and connecting them with professionals who can help them make sense of  how to care for themselves or loved ones," said Eloise Barron, Coordinator of the RVNA's Quality Living at Home program.

Redding First Selectman Natalie Ketcham will welcome attendees and the event will be moderated by Dr. Rosalind Kopfstein, chairman of the Redding Commission on Aging, who has recently published articles on poverty, aging and Medicaid.

"The most important things for people to know are the resources that are out there before they encounter a crisis," Kopfstein said. "People will be able to come away with a lot of information in their hands so they can walk to the next journey."

The seminar's main topics include asset preservation and wealth transfer, probate and conservatorships, the cost of at-home care, assisted Lliving and long-term care, how to maximize your home's value as well as Veteran's Administration benefits.

The format will allow attendees to hear from presenters and then briefly visit and ask questions with several round table seminar sponsors, including: Redding Probate Judge Richard Emerson, Attorney Ann Fowler-Cruz, Ridgefield Crossings representative Terri Ramsey, Meadow Ridge representative Cathy Goodman, Fairfield County Bank's Joyce Kuhn, RVNA's Laura Switzer and William Pitt Sotheby's Kristi Vaughan and Deborah Durkee.

The idea of round table discussions is to give people a chance to zero in on the current decisions they are facing, whether it be home care, keeping a home or considering assisted living.

"We hope that people will bring questions, and one of the goals is to build relationships within the community that will carry on throughout the lives of our seniors and their families," said Barron, who coordinated the event.

Space is limited and may be reserved by calling RVNA Quality Living at Home at 203-438-5555 x 1005. Light refreshments will be served.