30 FoCo seniors discuss issues with state legislators at annual Senior Day event

Justine Lookenott

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Debra Stokes, Rick Jasperse, Vicki Johnson, Ruthie Brew, Carter Barrett and Brent Cox at the state Capitol on Senior Day on Feb. 15, 2023Photo byForsyth County Government

(Forsyth County, GA) Last month, 30 Forsyth County seniors met with state legislators at the Georgia State Capitol to discuss senior issues as part of the annual Senior Day event.

Senior Day is held on February 15 at the Capitol by members of the Georgia Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly (CO-AGE).

The Forsyth County group was led by Senior Services Director Ruthie Brew. Vicki V. Johnson, a Forsyth County resident who serves on the Georgia Council on Aging (GCOA), and GCOA Executive Director Debra Stokes welcomed the group to the Capitol.

Attendees watched floor debates in the House and Senate chambers and toured the building. Discussions with their legislators covered several topics including elections, transportation and taxation.

Local lawmakers included State Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th district) and State Reps. Carter Barrett (24th), David Clark (100th), Brent Cox (28th), Rick Jasperse (11th), Todd Jones (25th) and Lauren McDonald (26th).

“The Forsyth County delegation was so friendly and approachable,” said Forsyth County senior Sherry Meniroff. “It was the first time many of us had ever talked to them.”

CO-AGE is part of the GCOA, which is run by volunteers appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House and commissioner of the Department of Human Services.

CO-AGE has four goals for 2023:

  • To increase state funding for at-home services
  • For Teledentistry to be authorized to improve access to oral health
  • To lift restrictions on Medicaid usage for assisted living
  • To create a state-administered voluntary savings program for workers

For more information on CO-AGE and GCOA, visit gcoa.org. Residents can also contact Nikaela Frederick at 404-281-0430 or at nikaela.frederick@gcoa.ga.go.

If you have a news tip in Forsyth County, contact Justine Lookenott at justine.lookenott@newsbreak.com.

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I cover local news in Forsyth County, GA. My debut into the writing world began at the age of 10 when I won an essay contest in Around Acworth Magazine in which I wrote about spending the summer with my pet goat, Eclair. Since graduating from Kennesaw State University, I have been published in several newspapers and magazines in the Atlanta area including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta School Guide, What Now Atlanta, Newcomer Magazine, the Marietta Daily Journal and the Cherokee Tribune.

Forsyth County, GA
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