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How to Be an Effective Advocate
Elizabeth Swider Certified Senior Advisor
Certified Aging in Place Specialist Owner, Care is There Geriatric Care Management
Agent: Acts for a person, under a contract with instructions given by that person Guardian and Conservator: Legally appointed by a judge to make decisions for a person, whether or not that person agrees
What is an Advocate?
Advocate: “One that supports or promotes the interests of another”
Navigating unfamiliar circumstances, especially transitions
Difficulty hearing, speaking, seeing, remembering, traveling
Little power over the situation
Situations When Advocacy is Helpful
Situations When Advocacy is Helpful
Losing a partner
Choosing service providers
Moving
Integrating into a new community
Managing finances
Medical emergencies
Doctor appointments
Chronic disease management
Managing devices
Maintaining a home
• Have goals in mind and questions in hand • Ensure test results have arrived • Bring medication list and medical history • Remind the doctor of the purpose of the
appointment • Report symptoms and results • Ask for other services – referrals, home health,
physical therapy, instructions • Ask for next steps
Shape the Appointment
Advocating During Doctor Appointments
• Is the care plan on track with the goals? • Understand new medications, and have a
doctor or pharmacist review med regime • Check medications against the Beer’s List • Help keep electronic medical record up to
date • Question things that don’t make sense
Keep the Care on Track
Advocating During Doctor Appointments
• Clarify options • Help them find their own voice • If you can’t support their choice -
resign • If they are in danger – Adult Protective
Services • The importance of advance directives
and agency
Create Informed
Choice
Principles of Effective Advocacy
• Be present – especially during transitions
• Have a HIPAA release signed • Understand the systems and the
people • Work for positive, team-
oriented, affirmative solutions
Communicate
Principles of Effective Advocacy
• Pick up and refill prescriptions •Obtain and maintain assistive
devices (hearing aids, glasses, walkers, med reminder boxes)
• Pick up and deliver paperwork •Get other people involved
Handle the Logistics
Principles of Effective Advocacy
• People make mistakes • Complicated systems
miscommunicate • Bodies and treatments are
unpredictable • “I can” vs “They should”
Expect Gaps – and Fill Them
Principles of Effective Advocacy
Create Informed
Choice
Communicate
Handle Logistics Fill Gaps
Next Challenge!
Principles of Effective Advocacy
Care is There Geriatric Care Management
434.326.5323 540.246.0211 800.464.1633
www.CareisThere.com [email protected]