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Illinois Nursing Home Residents
Wear Many Hats for Election 2004
Illinoisans affiliated with nursing
homes account for more than half a million votes
CHICAGO — Hats, buttons, scarves, ties and
ribbons. You name it and residents of nursing homes
throughout Illinois are wearing it to show support for
their candidates of choice. Five percent of the more
than 12.5 million people who live in Illinois are
affiliated in some way to Illinois' nursing homes,
either as residents, family members, staff or
volunteers. That's 600,000 votes that can make a big
difference on Nov. 2.
Nursing home staff and volunteers throughout Illinois
are giving residents a forum to voice their opinions and
discuss the issues that are important to them. They are
participating in group discussions, meeting to learn the
candidates' stances on issues, creating campaign hats
and buttons to wear, and encouraging people of all ages
to get out and vote. Following are examples of
resident-sponsored events:
Glenview Terrace Nursing Center, 1511
Greenwood Road, Glenview , 3
p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26
Residents will learn about the vice presidential
candidates
Terrace Nursing Home, 1615 Sunset Ave.,
Waukegan , 4 p.m.,
Tuesday, Oct. 26
Residents will
debate the issues most important to them.
Village Nursing Home, 9000 Lavergne Ave.,
Skokie , 10 a.m.,
Thursday, Oct. 28
District 17 representative candidate Michele Bromberg to
visit the nursing home and speak to the residents.
"We've been encouraging our residents to be as
vocal and involved in the political process as
possible," said Sharon Mart, activity director at
Village Nursing Home in Skokie. "Quite a few
residents ran with it. It's terrific to see all the
residents' patriotism shine through."
Member nursing homes of the Illinois Council on Long
Term Care, a professional association of nearly 200
nursing facilities in Illinois also are ensuring that
every resident is able to vote on Nov. 2 regardless of
their situation. Homes are providing a private room for
the Health Care Absentee Voter Program, offering
transportation to the polling place and assisting
with absentee ballot voting.
"This important population cannot
be forgotten," said Terrence Sullivan, executive
director of the Illinois Council on Long Term Care.
"Nursing home residents are voting because of
issues that are important to them and in some cases
issues affecting their grandchildren."
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The Illinois Council
on Long Term Care is an association of
nearly 200 Illinois nursing facilities
that employ 26,000 professionals who
provide care to more than 37,000
residents. To learn more information
about nursing home care in Illinois,
visit the Council’s Web site www.nursinghome.org.
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