A free workshop Tuesday, Oct. 28, will teach residents about options for long-term care protection.

Information will include how residents already residing in a nursing home can reduce or even eliminate their nursing home expenses.

The North Carolina Senior Citizens Association is sponsoring two educational workshops at the Hampton Inn (behind Best Buy and Starbucks) on U.S. 15-501 in Aberdeen. Elder Law Attorney Jason Sutton will conduct the workshop.

Participants will learn how recent changes in the law affect how they can legally protect and preserve their estate from the rising costs of nursing home and assisted-living expenses. This includes how to protect the family home and life savings from nursing home costs.

Other issues on the agenda are how to avoid the five-year "look back" period; what to do if a loved one is already diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or multiple sclerosis; attributes to look for in a good long-term care policy; how to qualify for VA long-term care benefits; how to care for an aging family member; tax laws regarding long-term care; and the latest guidelines for Medicare and Medicaid planning.

"Unfortunately, many Ameri-cans do not want to think about needing long-term care and, therefore, fail to plan for it," Sutton said. "Others wrongly assume that Medicare or their major medical health insurance policy will cover the costs of long-term care.

"As a result of this failure to plan, many people will lose their life's savings to nursing home care and home health care expenses and have to resort ultimately to Medicaid.

"The best time to prepare for long-term care is before it is needed. However, you still have options if a loved one is already receiving care at home or in a nursing home. The government will not notify you of your eligibility. You must find out for yourself."

Participants can attend sessions at either 9:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. Because of the popularity of this workshop, seating is limited. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Reservations can be made by calling the 24-hour, toll-free reservation hotline at (800) 621-4818.