Seniors Savor 'Swing' Status

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- While the upcoming mid-term elections have politicians and party loyalists gnawing on their nails, many seniors are looking forward to an election cycle that may hinge on their opinions and actions.

The 2006 George Washington University Battleground Poll identifies seniors as one of two "key battlegrounds" with hot button issues like Social Security and prescription drug coverage taking center stage.

That means more candidate, party and media attention to seniors and their priorities, and that suits many, like those at The Cedars of Chapel Hill, just fine.

"I've been involved in politics most of my life, and I stay fired up," says Tom Suddarth, 83, a former state senator from Hendersonville, who has strong feelings about the mid-term elections. "Right now, I'm trying to get as many people as possible at The Cedars registered to vote."

Suddarth and other political activists at The Cedars are organizing meetings and forums. For community administrators, that political activism is a big plus.

"Activism means that our residents are engaged in the world," said Cedars' President Bob Woodruff, "and that's generally a good indicator of their overall well being. Today's seniors want an active, engaged lifestyle. They're anything but complacent. We encourage that."

But encouragement may not be necessary. "Seniors are extraordinarily reliable voters and because of that candidates cannot afford to ignore them," says Ferrel Guillory, director of the Program on Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The political importance of seniors may only intensify as Baby Boomers retire. According to the influential book Generations (by Neil Howe and William Strauss), Boomers are a Prophet generation, strongly committed to certain values and ready to fight.

"I'm not afraid to tell people how to vote -- after all, politics makes the world go 'round," says Marie D. Eldridge, a 30-year civil servant from Washington D.C. "I'm more active in politics now than I was when I was raising my children."

For more information on the activist scene at The Cedars, please contact L. Hester at (919) 882-1979.

About The Cedars of Chapel Hill

Located in Chapel Hill, N.C., The Cedars represents a new concept in retirement living. A state-of-the-art community of elegant private residences that promotes independent living, the Cedars also features a health care center that supports all levels of care while instilling a sense of security and peace of mind. For more information, visit http://www.cedarsofchapelhill.com/.