Happy Election Day!

Regardless of party affiliation, we've all been counting down to November 6. Chances are, your residents share your Election Day enthusiasm. Research has shown that there was a decline in voter turnout between 1960 and 1998 for every age group other than those over 65. In fact, seniors are 60 percent more likely to vote than young people and 10 percent more likely to vote than the national average.^1,2 

Once your residents have cast their votes, why not have an Election Day party at your facility?

Here are some ideas to get you started.  Place red, white and blue decorations in a common room (this is a great opportunity to get extra mileage out of your Fourth of July decorations). Many people enjoy watching the results come in, so make sure you have plenty of comfortable seating around the largest television in the facility. The results can take a while, so ensure you have healthy snacks and drinks on hand. Encourage the residents to discuss their favorite political memories. To get things going, ask them who won the presidential election the first time they voted. Create or download a list of candidates for your local election (these lists are typically available on your county's website) so that residents can keep track of the winners. However you choose to celebrate, keep the mood lighthearted – politics can spark a lot of heated discussions and the goal here is for everybody to have fun!  References 1 U.S. Department of State. The Senior Vote in the 2012 Election. Available at: http://fpc.state.gov/190787.htm. Accessed November 1, 2012.  2 America.gov. Senior Citizens Most Reliable Group of U.S. Voters. Available at: http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2008/September/200809171649211xeneerg0.88995.html. Accessed November 1, 2012.