Georgetown, DE (April 12, 2019): Everyone faces the same certain fate, but the majority of Americans are unsure of – and not prepared for – the final chapter of life. Six in 10 people have no plan for their final affairs, according to some estimates, leaving the burden to mourning family members to settle estates and tie up the loose ends to their loved ones’ lives.

The Sussex CARES (Creating Awareness of Resources for Every Senior in Sussex County) Conference aims to help change this by providing a forum that is full of facts and maybe even a little fun. The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2019, at Crossroad Community Church, 20684 State Forest Road, west of Georgetown. Admission is free, which includes lunch, but advanced registration is required. The deadline to register is April 30.

The conference is hosted by the Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, an 11-member body appointed by the Sussex County Council.

At this year’s event, titled "Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Preparing for Life’s Final Chapter," guests will have an opportunity to learn about everything from estate planning and burial/cremation to philanthropic giving and caring for surviving pets. Patricia W. Griffin, Master in the Delaware Court of Chancery, will be the keynote speaker, and will be joined by panelists from Southern Delaware Estate Planning Council, Delaware Volunteer Legal Services, Delaware Community Legal Aid Society, Inc, Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Delaware Community Foundation, Emmert Auction Associates and Brandywine Valley SPCA to discuss various end-of-life planning issues. Meantime, more than two dozen vendors and exhibitors, some offering door prizes, including a TV, will be on hand to provide information about services and programs available to those planning their or their loved one’s final affairs.

For more information, or to register, call (302) 396-9518 or email 2019caresconference@gmail.com. Registration also can be completed online at http://bit.ly/2019caresconference.

The Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging & Adults with Physical Disabilities is an 11-member panel established by the Sussex County Council to be an advocate for programs and policies that benefit older and disabled residents. The Advisory Committee’s mission is to increase dialogue, make recommendations to Council, and give support, assistance and advice on significant issues and programs that may affect the lives of the county’s aging and adults with physical disabilities populations. For more information, visit the Advisory Committee’s page at sussexcountyde.gov/boards-committees.

###