The coronavirus “has changed just about everything in senior living,” but a Florida-based senior living company is rolling out a comprehensive voting plan to ensure that residents of its communities retain their right to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
Clearwater, FL-based SenCare Management, which owns and operates 18 Grand Villa Senior Living communities throughout the Sunshine State, has created a plan that includes provisions for voting by mail, transporting residents to early voting locations, and allowing family members to transport their loved ones to and from polling locations.
“The right to vote is one of our most important privileges, and it’s essential that all of our residents who want to exercise that right have the opportunity to do so safely,” SenCare Management President John Moschner said. “COVID-19 has changed just about everything in senior living, but we wanted to make sure we had a plan for ensuring our residents could vote as safely as possible.”
Early voting
The 18 Grand Village communities are offering residents the opportunity to reserve a seat for scheduled trips to the nearest early voting locations. Residents will be provided face masks, face shields and pens. Gloves and hand sanitizer will be available on the vehicles.
Families that opt to transport their loved ones for early voting will be asked to follow the same procedures used for essential medical appointments. Communities will help family members with scheduling and will review safety protocols with them.
Vote-by-mail
Both residents and their families are receiving regular reminders about how to request vote-by-mail ballots, as well as the deadlines for requesting and returning ballots. Grand Villa staff members will work with families to set up in-person and virtual visits for residents who need help filling out a ballot.
Grand Villa previously sent reminders for residents and families to update their addresses before the Oct. 5 voter registration deadline.
