As our loved ones grow older and age-related challenges starts to set in and progress aggressively, we are mostly left with no other option than to take up the responsibility of advocating for them. Sometimes advocating for a loved one can be challenging, especially when we are not equipped with the right information.
To be an advocate for your aging parents or loved one means understanding your aging loved one’s wishes and needs and being able to pass them on to people who are responsible in ensuring those wishes and needs are met. Sometimes advocating for our aging parents could seem overwhelming and more than you can handle.
Regardless of how overwhelmed or intimidated you may feel about this responsibility, there are ways you can work on improving your skills to be more effective.
To be successful in this responsibility you will have to improve your skills on the following factors:
Tenacious: To be successful at advocating for your aging loved one, you have to be very committed to that task. It requires giving it your all including your time. You will certainly encounter difficult situations in the process either from your loved one or those acting upon the information you are conveying. Regardless of the dilemmas, it is very important to remain very objective and advocate for exactly what your loved one requires.
Monitor: Just like the saying goes “You cannot give what you don’t have”. Having said that, it is very important to take very good care of yourself as you take up the responsibility of being your aging loved one’s advocate. To be successful in this process, you will have to take notes and record all the observations and personal concerns you notice about your loved one. Taking notes helps other family caregiver to put down all the changes they have noticed in your loved one. With proper note taking, it will be hard to miss or forget any vital information you may need to communicate as you juggle between advocating for your aging loved one and your personal care.
Learn: Learning involved better understanding of the specific health conditions of your aging loved one as well as the aging process in general. You will have to understand that as our loved one’s age, certain task would become overwhelming if not impossible for them to handle as the navigate. Since aging process is evolving, you will continue to learn each day and ask more questions. At this point, it is important to seek second opinion or talk to a different trusted source until you are satisfied with their answer.
Communicate. Effective communication with medical, legal, or financial experts is essential to successfully advocate for a senior. As these professionals are often very busy, maintain a clear and concise style of communication. Bring notes so you’re sure to address all the bases. Remain respectful, and keep in mind listening is as crucial to good communication as talking. And, thank the professional for hearing you out and for their assistance in coming to the very best resolution.
Above all else, keep your eye on the positive side, and build a solid system of support, including the aging care team at Amazing Support Home Care. We are here to work with you to maintain the very best quality of life for the aging adult you love. We also provide you with opportunities to step away from your care-giving role to recharge and refresh – something extremely important both for your loved one and yourself.
If you need Dementia care, personal care, or other senior care services at home, please do not hesitate to reach out to us online at
(909) 716-5493 or send us an email info@amazingsupporthomecare.com. You can also visit our website www.amazingsupporthomecare.com any time and let us know how we can help! We offer a free of charge in-home assessment and the creation of a personalized plan of care that will help ensure each of your care bases are covered!