The Community of Vermont Elders (COVE) and Westview Meadows are hosting a South-Central Washington County Candidates Forum on elder issues on Friday, October 17, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Westview Meadows, 171 Westview Meadows Road, Montpelier. This event, free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by AARP Vermont, Central Vermont Council on Aging, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition and Central Vermont Community Land Trust, Vermont Center for Independent Living, and VNAs of Vermont. Light breakfast will be provided.

Washington County State Senate and Washington districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 House candidates (Northfield, Berlin, Barre Town, Barre City, & Montpelier) will be there to discuss issues of interest to their elder constituents and answer questions from the public. While people of any age are welcome, the focus will be on elder concerns.

Some of COVE’s priority issues for the 2015 session are reducing waiting time for eligibility determination and enhancing services in Vermont’s “Choices for Care” (CFC) Medicaid home- and community-based long term care program; preserving funding for fuel assistance, transportation and other programs that meet the needs of vulnerable adults; ensuring that the Adult Protective Services program provides all the protections required by law; and monitoring health care reform and how it will affect people on Medicare.

COVE is a 501-c-3 non-profit whose mission is to promote and protect a higher quality of life for Vermont’s elders, through education and advocacy.