Advocacy for an elderly loved one can be an all-consuming task. But what does advocacy actually look like in practice? For those of us that have had to speak up for an older loved one, we know that this is more than just using our voices to support the rights and wellbeing of a loved one.
Advocacy is, of course, speaking up and supporting someone. But it’s also much more than this. In fact, this is kind of like the tip of the iceberg. It’s the most visible component of advocacy, but it’s not the biggest part. Speaking up for someone is only a small portion of what advocacy actually entails.
One of the most important things that you can do right from the beginning of this process is to educate yourself regarding the different options that are out there. You should know what the main types of senior care that are available to your parent or grandparent locally are–and you should know how each of those things can help your family to achieve whatever care goals there might be. This also means that you should have a firm understanding of your loved one’s medical and emotional needs, and how the various types of care can help them to meet those needs.
You should also educate yourself regarding your loved one’s rights while receiving care. Know what the caregiver can and should be doing. This will help to ensure that the highest quality care is received in an ongoing manner.
Additionally, there are a lot of behind the scenes type things that you can do. Staying organized is probably the number one thing that should be on your list. Some people are naturally very organized, others are not. Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, it’s important that you keep track of what your loved one’s needs are, what you’re doing to help meet those needs, and who is on your team. Keep track of who you’ve spoken to, when you spoke, and what was said. This helps you to stay organized, but can also help to keep others accountable.
If your loved one is receiving some sort of formalized care, be sure to know who to speak to with any issues. All states have a senior care ombudsman program where issues can be brought. This can be helpful, but can take time. Knowing who to speak to in order to resolve things quickly is preferable.
Care advocacy begins with you. You know your family better than anyone, who better to be the force for change and quality care?
Don’t forget that you have resources on your side that can make advocacy easier. If you’d like to learn more about senior care advocacy, I recommend you start with your county’s Office of the Aging, or equivalent public agency. These differ from state to state and region to region, but the purpose is to act as a public resource to help improve the quality of life that the elderly experience. This can be tough, but when you tap into the existing nearby resources, the process can become more manageable.
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