Family caregivers, baby boomers, seniors and all those interested in knowing what's ahead as we age are invited to attend Napa County's Caring Counts conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 7 at the Meadows, 1800 Atrium Parkway in Napa. The day, sponsored by the Napa Alliance on Aging, will feature 12 workshops, a keynote address by Nancy Powers-Stone of the Redwood Caregiver Resource Center and a luncheon honoring the Napa County Caregiver of the Year.

"This is a day set aside just for caregivers. All of us, at one time or another, will find ourselves caring for another," said Yvonne Baginski, event organizer. "A day like this will help prepare."

The day begins with a session on "Self-Care for the Caregiver." After this, participants can choose workshops including "Community Resources 101," by Baginski, "Organizing for your Brain Type," by Lanna Nakone or a session by Mark Singer, M.D., "Emergency Room Visits, Medications and Home Safety."

Each hour will feature several sessions to choose from. At 11:30, sessions include: "Conversations for Life, Tools for Choosing Quality of Life in Our Care," by Mary Matthieson, "Conservatorships, Durable Powers and Other Legal Issues," by Joyce Beatty and "How to Pay for Long Term Care" with a panel of experts on reverse mortgages, veterans administration benefits, long-term care insurance and Medi-Cal planning.

Local speakers are available for questions and discussion. The day will also feature more than 25 tables of resources and information on community businesses and organizations helping seniors and family caregivers.

At noon, Jenny Payne, a 35-year-old woman who has cared for a dying fiance, her grandmother, and finally, her own father, will be honored as Caregiver of the Year.

"Jenny has been a caregiver for many years and her story will touch our hearts," said Baginski. "Her honor is in recognition of all those who care for each other, often without being know or seen by anyone else."

The afternoon will includes sessions on adult day health care, Alzheimer's resources and hospice and community options for low income seniors. Brian Tong, from the Napa County district attorney's office, and Kristi Lesnewsich of Senior Legal Services will speak on "Protection from Caregiver Theft and Other Scams." There will also be a workshop offered on "The Spiritual Road of Caregiving: Our Values, Beliefs and Meaning of Caring for one Another."

The conference costs $45 for the day, including lunch. Pre-registration is required, and brochures can be directly downloaded from www.borntoage.com, or leave your name and address at 226-7127.