An elder care advocate is an individual, or group of people, that speak up for the rights of seniors that are receiving some sort of senior care. This might be something as simple as helping kitchen staff to serve food that more people like, or something as major as pointing out where a care service is not providing adequate assistance or even has some sort of unlawful activity occurring. Whatever the severity of the issue, care advocates act for the good of seniors.
You may come across different names for people that speak up on behalf of seniors. For example, in many nursing homes and assisted living facilities, this is an official position, known as an ombudsman. The position may be paid or volunteer, but the end goal is the same. These individuals speak for seniors when the elderly are not able to effectively do so on their own.
This is not an easy role to fulfill. Care advocates often have a large number of people that they are responsible for. They also are often fighting unpleasant battles with large care organizations. These people do what they do because they have a passion for helping the elderly laid upon them. They love people and they want to help ad protect them.
Elder care advocates do a lot of good. They ensure that the rights of the elderly are being upheld. Even if someone is in poor enough physical condition that they need senior care, they are still a human being, with all of the rights and dignity that comes along with that. For a long time, people in vulnerable situations have not had someone to speak up and act for them. This goes for seniors, children, and those with developmental disabilities.
Elder care advocates speak out for seniors receiving care that can’t always speak up for themselves.
Many county governments have care advocates that you can rely upon. If you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with your area’s Senior Services. They will be able to point you toward advocate resources in your locality.
Our caregivers act as advocates in their own unique way. A good, professional caregiver is always acting out of the best interests for the person that he or she is responsible for. However, because of the role that a caregiver plays, giving them the title of “advocate” isn’t quite accurate. Advocates can act as a watchdog of sorts when it comes to a caregiver, so this isn’t something that should be done by just one person. An official advocate really should be an independent body.
This goes to show that everyone in the care chain really has a role to play when someone is receiving care. Oftentimes, a paid advocate is just not a reality for someone. This is why volunteers, caregivers, techs, family members, and other seniors all have a role to play when it comes to ensuring that high quality care is pursued. High quality senior care is not just about meeting basic needs; it’s about providing love and comfort for someone in a vulnerable place. It’s about compassion, kindness, and professionalism. In our own way, we can all speak up for the rights of others on a day to day basis.
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