The community was invited to a public hearing to a review and comment on Bristol's Area Plan on Aging for the current year at Bristol Elder Services (Bristol) on August 7, 2013. Bristol is a private nonprofit corporation designated by the Commonwealth as the focal point for senior services in fifteen communities in Southeastern Massachusetts. The agency prioritizes needs and gaps in services and develops a four-year Area Plan to fill those needs. The Area Plan ensures that community-bases services are available to allow seniors to live as independently as possible. Bristol evaluates the feasibility of starting new programs and serving populations that traditionally lack access to programs and benefits. Following the public process for comment and input, BES will submit the Area Plan to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs for approval. For an outline of the Area Plan goals, click here. For more information about the Plan, contact Melanie Minutelli Ramos at 774-627-1380.

(Top row) Bristol Elder Services Executive Director Nancy Munson discusses some of the fine points of the five goals as Randilynn Keiser listens. (Middle row) Bristol Community College intern Holly Smith listens as Melanie Minutelli Ramos goes over the specific goals in the Area Plan. (Bottom row) Staff members Barbara Wales and Trish Hunter discuss some of the services that are designed to address healthy living.