Health care is a very hotly debated topic. People of all ages and economic situations are impacted by the decisions and laws that are passed regarding health care. Home Health is part of that discussion. Whether you are a Medicare beneficiary, the child of a Medicare age parent or soon to be a Medicare recipient the laws that have passed and will be passed will affect you and generations to come.
Home bound patients have the right to vote and as home care provider you have the ability to assist your patients. Just because someone can no longer leave their home does not mean they should forfeit the right to vote.
People with disabilities were on average about 12 percentage points less likely than those without disabilities to vote, after adjusting for differences in demographic characteristics (age, sex, race, education, and marital status). Reported problems with voting among people with age related disabilities are split among getting to the polling place, being able to vote once at the polling place, and general mobility. [i]
As a provider you can assist your patients to register to vote and obtain absentee vote ballots. These forms are available on –line in most states. Bring the Vote Home is a nationwide citizenship project coordinated by the Council for State Home Care Associations, Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, and other home health community members to help America’s approximately 12 million home healthcare patients, including 3.5 Medicare beneficiaries, and 1.1 million skilled healthcare professionals exercise their right to vote in national and state elections this November. To learn more, visit www.bringthevotehome.org state specific information on voter registration can be found here.[ii] Home health providers have historically shied away from politics. However, providers can contribute to our democracy and yet remain neutral by assisting their home bound patients to vote.
Providers should not attempt to sway a patient to vote for any specific candidate. Some specific dos and don’ts are provided by the Texas Association of Home Care and Hospice. [iii]
| DO:
• Encourage colleagues, patients, and family members to register to vote and, if eligible, to request an absentee ballot. • Encourage colleagues, patients and family members to complete and return the forms by the October 7th, deadline per the form instructions. • Explain and emphasize the importance of voting and how easily it can be done from home. • Encourage colleagues, patients and family members to visit the Bring the Vote Home website to learn more about candidates’ stances and positions on home healthcare |
DO NOT:
• Recommend, endorse, or encourage support for one candidate or party over another. • Tell the people you’re registering which party to register under or who to vote for. • Coordinate activities with a candidate or campaign or political party. • Target your registration efforts toward any particular ideological group, party or issue. • Collect the forms back from your patients. |
During this election year providers, patients and employee’s have the opportunity to have your voice be heard by voting. As home care providers and advocates for the patients we serve, we are in a unique position to assist the elderly to exercise their right to vote.
[i] www.accessiblesociety.org/topics/voting/voterturnout
[ii] PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1jDUC)
[iii]Texas Association of Home Health and Hospice www.tahc.org/
