Whether the need happens suddenly or over a period of years, when the necessity for extended health care happens, knowing about community resources is a necessity. The worst case scenario is to have to make decisions about long term care in a crisis.

“Options for the Future: Living Choices for Older Adults & People with Disabilities” is presented every six months as a free, information-only opportunity to learn about the wide variety of services and resources in Pierce County. Topics to be addressed include in-home care, geriatric care management, elder law, adult family homes, assisted living, skilled nursing homes, memory care, Medicare, Medicaid and community resources in Pierce County.

“Life is fragile,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources manager. “For some people – even the youngest and healthiest individual – life can change in a blink with an accident or illness. For others, the gradual onset of disabilities may lead to need for extended care. In either case, knowing about community resources and how to tap into them is crucial.”

“Options for the Future” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 7 at the Jim and Carol Milgard Family HOPE Center, 8502 Skansie Avenue in Gig Harbor. The event is jointly sponsored by Pierce County Community Connections Aging & Disability Resources and the Health Care Providers Council of Pierce County.

Participants will have the chance to learn about services and resources and ask questions of local professionals in the long term care services network. The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information about the workshop itself, call the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center at (253) 798-4600.