EVERETT — Senior-citizen advocates — including Snohomish County’s Long Term Care and Aging Division, AARP Washington, the ElderCare Alliance, the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and the Washington State Senior Citizens’ Lobby — are hosting a legislative candidate forum dedicated to aging policy issues and the state’s readiness to meet the needs of the growing numbers of seniors in the state.

This free event is currently slated for Tuesday, Oct. 9, and is one of five similar aging policy forums set to be held across the state. The forums will include brief presentations from local seniors, family members and consumer advocates, followed by moderated discussions with invited legislative candidates, who will then answer questions from the audience. Among the local candidates who are committed to attend are state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe of District 1, state Rep. John McCoy of District 38 and state Rep. Hans Dunshee of District 44.

“Declining revenue at the state level has forced deep cuts to long-term services and support programs available to seniors,” Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said. “Yet it is estimated that Washington will need an additional 440,000 paid home-care workers between now and 2030 to meet the rising need for long-term services and support.”

In 2009, those aged 65 and older represented about 12 percent of the state’s population. This is expected to increase to 20 percent by 2030. Washington’s population over age 85 is expected to double by 2030.

This event will run from 2-4 p.m. at the Weyerhaeuser Room in the Everett Transit Station, located at 3201 W. Smith Ave. in Everett. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. Seating is limited and the public is encouraged to RSVP in advance of the event to Joyce Frasu at 425-388-7377 or j.frasu@snoco.org.