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

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