MIDDLEBURY — The Community of Vermont Elders (COVE), EastView at Middlebury and the Addison County Retired Teachers Association are hosting a Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on elder issues on Friday, Nov. 6, from 10-11:30 a.m. at EastView at Middlebury.
Candidates Matte Dunne, Bruce Lisman, Sue Minter and Shap Smith will be at the forum to talk about their vision for Vermont’s future with an aging demographic, and to answer questions from the audience on a variety of issues. While people of any age are welcome, the focus will be on elder concerns.
COVE’s priority issues include funding for fuel assistance, transportation, housing and other programs that meet the needs of vulnerable elders; getting the savings in the “Choices for Care” (CFC) Medicaid long-term care waiver program reinvested into enhanced home and community-based long-term care services; eliminating delays in CFC eligibility determinations; ensuring that elders and other vulnerable adults are protected from abuse, neglect or exploitation; increasing access to oral health care for elders; and monitoring health care/health care payment reform to evaluate how it will affect people on Medicare.
This event, free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by AARP Vermont, Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition, Vermont Association of Adult Day Services, Vermont Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Vermont Center for Independent Living, Vermont Retired Teachers Association, and VNAs of Vermont.  Beverages and pastries will be provided.
Because seating is limited to 65 people, the hosts request that reservations be made by calling the EastView concierge at 802-989-7500. Parking is also limited, so carpooling is strongly encouraged. 
COVE’s annual meeting, also free and open to the public, will precede the forum, running from 9:15-9:45 a.m. It will feature updates from Washington and Montpelier on issues that impact older Vermonters. COVE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to promote and protect a higher quality of life for Vermont’s elders, through education and advocacy.