During the height of campaign season, there’s all sorts of political events taking place. However, I’m not sure I’ve heard of one like the United Retirement Center (URC) in Bookings, South Dakota hosted last month.
URC hosted seven political candidates, as well as staff member from Sen. Tim Johnson’s (D-S.D.) office for a intergenerational event that brought together their nursing home residents and kids from their child development center. This isn’t that unique, but then there’s the 4-H club members and their “kids,” which included chicks, goats and a hen. Everyone got a chance to interact with these special visitors, whose visit was part of the organization’s Alleviating Loneliness in a Vibrant Environment (ALIVE) program for older adults.
But it wasn’t just about fun. After the activity, URC staff talked with candidates about rising costs in long-term care. Employees shared statistics and gave a snapshot of the typical person URC cares for and the financial challenges this person may face. Staff also took questions from the visitors about the topic and their organization’s other programs and initiatives.
What’s the moral of the URC story? That interacting with policy makers can be fun, and sometimes, it’s that fun that helps them recognize the value providers offer to their older (and sometimes younger) constituents.
Has your organization hosted a unique event with policy makers? Let us know and we’ll feature it on the blog.



Summertime is a time for travel, and if you’ve taken any road trips with friends or family, you know that personal preferences quickly come into play. Determining what music you will listen to, how high to blast the AC, where you will stop to eat and – actually – whether you stop at all, are just a few of the issues that you confront.