WP: Dementia and the Voter

[kskiska]

Tuesday, September 14, 2004; Page A01

Florida neurologist Marc Swerdloff was taken aback when one of his patients with advanced dementia voted in the 2000 presidential election. The man thought it was 1942 and Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. The patient's wife revealed that she had escorted her husband into the booth.

"I said 'Did he pick?' and she said 'No, I picked for him,' " Swerdloff said. "I felt bad. She essentially voted twice" in the Florida election, which gave George W. Bush a 537-vote victory and the White House.

As swing states with large elderly populations such as Florida gear up for another presidential election, a sleeper issue has been gaining attention on medical, legal and political radar screens: Many people with advanced dementia appear to be voting in elections -- including through absentee ballot. Although there are no national statistics, two studies in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island found that patients at dementia clinics turned out in higher numbers than the general population.

About 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia. Florida alone has 455,000 patients, advocates estimate.

Concern is growing that people with dementia may be targets for partisan exploitation in nursing homes and other facilities. Even without abuse, family members and caregivers may unduly influence close elections.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18916-2004Sep13.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Well, I guess it figures...

Voters with dementia picking a candidate with dementia.

[Dr Fate]

2. The "Liberal Media" spreading the "old folks dont vote right anyway" memo

I suppose they are getting us ready for more voter fraud in FLA...

[Geo55]

3. At least they have an excuse.....

rest of 'em just ACT like they are demented.

[LibDemAlways]

4. LOL....

You nailed that one. Anyone who would even consider voting for chimp is certifiable.

[PartyPooper]

5. Geez Louise! I woulda' thunk he voted for FDR instead of Junior!

He thought it was 1942 instead of 2000!

:wow:

[Ouabache]

6. Maybe they are doing what their loved one told them to do?

After working at polling sites and seeing some confused elderly voters, I have left SPECIFIC instruction with my loved ones that if I am ever senile, confused, etc.

VOTE MY ASS :kick: STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC !!

And they know they will burn in hell if they don't.

[Kolesar]

7. We Dems could train the underpaid aides to look out for this stuff

Nursing home aides who are paid a few dollars over minimum wage are our base. We just have to get them motivated and voting. We also have to get them looking out for this electioneering. Or have them engineer it for John Kerry!

I would think the nursing home owners would be ok with it too. In Ohio, the goops are always cutting Medicaid/nursing home funding and bragging about it.