What is a Care Advocate? Meeting the CareGiving Needs of Those You Love Most Your Complete Plan of Care Your loved one is one of a kind. They have hopes, goals, fears, and especially care needs, unique to them and no one else. It stands to reason that decisions made concerning their care should reflect those individual wants and needs. So how do you make that plan? How do you choose only services which will benefit your family without invading their privacy, over-spending their resources, providing inadequate care, or exhausting yourself? Your planning can have critical, often life or death consequences.
Your Complete Plan of Care
Coordinating the Team
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Any effective care plan takes into consideration the medical, legal, financial, social, and sometimes spiritual well-being of your family. A Care Advocate is the central point of communication between all professionals involved in your family’s care. They coordinate and expedite services between family physicians, medical specialists, attorneys, insurance providers, financial planners, facility owners, and caregiver agencies, just to name a few. The CA acts as an advocate for your loved one by clearly explaining complex situations, offering recommendations, and reporting information to all appropriate parties involved. By having a professional oversee the entire process, you improve communication and eliminate confusion.
Luckily, there is a professional who can help. A Care Advocate (CA), usually a Registered Nurse or licensed Geriatric Care Manager, is a health care professional who specializes in meeting the individual needs of seniors. A CA can help you develop, implement, and coordinate a personal and thorough care plan for your family. A Care Advocate can safe-guard your loved one against harmful living environments, loss of dignity and personal rights, unnecessary stress on you and other caregivers, costly legal consequences, and neglect of important medical needs. A CA protects your family from poor care decisions, which can cost thousands of dollars in legal and medical bills, not to mention several months of stress and paperwork, all while your family receives less than adequate care. In this way, an Advocate conserves valuable resources in terms of time, worry, and money.
Initial Evaluation A Complete Care Plan begins with a conversation between you, your loved one, and a Care Advocate. This initial consult helps the CA understand your particular situation. A CA will consider the following factors:
Initial Evaluation (CONT.) • How does the senior function at home? Are they safe? • Can they sit, stand, or move without assistance? • Can they dress, shower, and feed themselves? • What is their cognitive status? • Can they call for help in an emergency? • Are they able to access friends, neighbors, or other social networks? • Are all legal documents in order? • Are there extenuating medical concerns to consider? • Are there financial concerns to address? A Care Advocate’s goal is to identify any potential problems, and find solutions which provide the maximum level of safety and dignity. A CA has access to resources of which most people are not aware. Their knowledge of the health care industry, coupled with years of experience finding resources, will save you precious time, conserve money, and reduce stress for everyone involved.
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