For many seniors, aging in place, or choosing to stay in their own home as they get older, is an empowering decision. It helps them maintain freedom, comfort, and their connection to familiar surroundings. However, aging in place requires frequent monitoring of changing health demands, as many seniors eventually encounter complex medical decisions, and knowing when medical advocacy is required is critical for their well-being.
Understanding Medical Advocacy
Medical advocacy is assisting people in navigating healthcare systems, understanding medical alternatives, and having their needs and wishes met. A medical advocate can act as a link between seniors, their families, and healthcare professionals, particularly when care gets more complex.
Knowing When Seniors Need Medical Advocacy
Seniors who have frequent falls, recurring illnesses, or unexplained weight loss may struggle to communicate their problems effectively to their medical team. Additionally, during appointments, they may minimize problems or forget to give important details. An advocate can assist in documenting symptoms, ensuring full discussions with physicians, and following up on any concerns. Other signs that might indicate a need for medical advocacy are:
- Difficulty Managing Medications: Managing multiple prescriptions is normal among seniors, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Missed doses, overuse, or uncertainty regarding medications may suggest the need for medical advocacy. Advocates can help coordinate drug schedules, clarify instructions, and watch for side effects.
- Missed Appointments or Medical Nonadherence: Cognitive decline, transportation challenges, or miscommunication can all contribute to forgetting visits or failing to follow medical instructions. A medical advocate can schedule and attend appointments, ensuring that the senior’s issues are addressed and treatment options are achievable.
- Cognitive or Communication Challenges: Conditions such as dementia and hearing loss might impair a senior’s ability to understand and communicate with healthcare personnel. Advocacy ensures their voice is heard and decisions are in their best interests. It also stops providers from making assumptions about the senior’s preferences or capabilities.
- Hospitalizations or Increased Complexity of Care: Seniors are often hit with a flood of information, testing, and more, all of which require them to make decisions. When these things start to overwhelm them, they may not even be able to process things, let alone make decisions. Advocates can maintain continuity of treatment by coordinating with specialists, documenting medical histories, and translating medical jargon into words that are easier for seniors to understand.
- Family Needs Support: Family members frequently act as informal advocates, although distance and being overwhelmed with their own day-to-day lives can restrict their involvement. Medical advocacy can bridge this gap by providing continuous, objective support.
- Confusion Over Insurance or Billing: Managing healthcare finances can sometimes be stressful. Advocacy includes checking bills, explaining insurance benefits, and ensuring seniors receive the care they deserve without incurring excessive financial obligations.
When to Take Action
When any of the above situations occur, it’s important for loved ones to have open conversations with seniors to explore the need for extra support. For family members, it’s important to respect the senior’s autonomy and stress how advocacy enhances, not replaces, their freedom, which will make them more willing to get on board.
Medical advocacy has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for seniors who are aging in place. Recognizing the signs they may need the support earlier rather than later allows caregivers and loved ones to provide timely support, helping seniors continue to thrive while navigating the complexity of aging.
Sources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-a-health
https://www.ioaging.org/aging/patient-advocacy-need-someone-go-bat-senior/
https://dailycaring.com/what-is-a-health-advocate-and-why-do-seniors-need-one/
If you or an aging loved one needs medical advocacy in Henderson, NV, please contact the caring staff at Golden Years today. Call (702) 931-0055.
Golden Years is Las Vegas’ premier senior concierge service. Golden Years offers numerous services including transition assistance, medical advocacy, crisis support, financial oversight and home services near Las Vegas, Lake Las Vegas, Red Rock Country Club, The Ridges, Las Vegas Country Club, Spanish Trails, Summerlin, Sun City Summerlin, Summerlin South, Sunrise Manor, Centennial Hills, Whitney, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Enterprise, Spring Valley, Rhodes Ranch, Southern Highlands, Henderson, Sun City MacDonald Ranch, Sun City Anthem, Green Valley, Anthem, Anthem Country Club, and Seven Hills.
Our caregivers and staff members treat our clients, residents, and their families with the utmost respect. Our focus is to provide the highest quality of care and service with compassion and dignity.
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