Why advocate for the elderly

At NCOA, we advocate for older adults and organizations that serve them. Get the latest news on public policy affecting older adults and aging programs, and find ways that you can take action. Your voice matters. Use NCOA's advocacy tools to speak up on the issues you care about. Get free e-learning at your convenience. Access live and on-demand webinars, conferences, and events sponsored by NCOA and our partners.

It's Medicare's 56th Birthday. A Time for Reflection. Ask family or friends to assist, or see about working with a professional organizer. When I was caring for both of my parents and my sister, moving and starting a new job all at once, I consulted a professional to develop an organizational plan.

You can make this option more affordable by implementing the plan yourself, as I did. Tech can help here, too. For example, there are numerous caregiving apps. Make digital copies of key documents, such as medication lists , medical history, powers of attorney and living wills , so you can access them on the go from your phone or tablet.

Communication skills This is key for building relationships with those who help care for our loved ones, from family members to lawyers, doctors and more. How to communicate more effectively Be respectful. Try to set emotions aside when you are advocating for a loved one.

Remember that to communicate effectively, listening is just as important as speaking. Do your homework before meetings with lawyers, medical professionals and other providers, and have notes ready.

Be clear, concise and get to the point. To ease communication with busy professionals, find out who in their office handles business like appointments and billing, and build relationships with them. Get to know how they prefer to communicate phone, email, text, etc. And always express appreciation. How to ask the right questions Educate yourself about your loved one's health conditions, finances and legal affairs. Be prepared with a list of questions for phone calls or meetings with facilities staff, doctors and other professionals.

Don't give up until you are satisfied you've got the answers you need to advocate effectively. Never assume; always clarify. If you hit a roadblock in arranging care or services, question it and think about other ways to achieve the goal. Sometimes, getting questions answered is all about asking the right person, be it a doctor, lawyer, accountant or member of their staff.

How to be more tenacious Be clear about goals and believe that there are solutions. Focus on the end result you want. Surround yourself with encouraging people who will pick you up and cheer you on. An advocate can provide valuable assistance by clarifying options, helping their client or loved one make their own choice based on their own values, communicating that choice, and doing the practical things necessary to implement the choice.

To have a life we love, we need a way to understand the world around us, to communicate our wishes, and to take the steps necessary to make our intentions into reality. This can be very challenging to people who have trouble hearing, seeing, writing, speaking, remembering, analyzing, or traveling from one location to another.

Many older people encounter difficult transitions and circumstances, where they have little experience or control: undergoing medical tests and treatment, managing chronic health conditions, or moving to a new home or community. After the death of a spouse, they face taking over tasks previously done by their partner - managing money, preparing meals, maintaining a home, or arranging social engagements. In an emergency, many things need to happen quickly. An advocate can help by clarifying options, helping their client or loved one make their own choice based on their own values, communicating that choice and doing the practical things necessary to implement the choice.

Be present: physically, mentally, and emotionally. At Care is There Geriatric Care Management, we are constantly updating our database of best practices and local service options. Feel free to call and see if we have ideas to share! Be careful not to overstep your own expertise.

Connect your client or loved one to experts for advice in health care, legal and financial matters, and other technical areas. It is not the role of the advocate to make the choice or lobby for a particular choice.

It can bring enormous peace of mind to families when they can see that their loved one understands and accepts the potential risks and outcomes associated with their choice. How can attorneys, like our members, help? In a number of different ways. We encourage you to use our Find a Lawyer service on our website to find a local attorney who can help you.