Advocating for Older Adults in Home Care and Senior Housing: Difference between revisions
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Advocating for Older Adults in Home Care and Senior Housing (view source)
Revision as of 23:00, 22 August 2024
, 22 August→Advocating for Older Adults
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* Keep in mind that exceptions to rules or policies can be made in some circumstances. | * Keep in mind that exceptions to rules or policies can be made in some circumstances. | ||
It is important to address the older adult’s expressed needs, as well as to involve their family or representatives. Particularly if an older adult | It is important to address the older adult’s expressed needs, as well as to involve their family or representatives. Particularly if an older adult is living with a form of dementia, involving loved ones may help identify issues and possible solutions. It can also be helpful to bring family members and other loved ones together to discuss concerns and develop a united message for communications with the care facility or any other authority. Caregivers may sometimes feel caught between conflicting directives from different family members. Providing support and guidance to caregivers in managing these complexities can help alleviate stress and improve the well-being of the older adult. | ||
Consider advocacy approaches that the older adult will be comfortable with, and whenever possible, ask for their consent. Confronting and negotiating with service providers or outside authorities may lead to anxiety and fears of repercussions. | Consider advocacy approaches that the older adult will be comfortable with, and whenever possible, ask for their consent. When it is not possible to request consent, such as in situations where capacity or safety is a concern, notify the older adult about what happened and what they can expect may happen next. Confronting and negotiating with service providers or outside authorities may lead to anxiety and fears of repercussions. It is important to validate the concerns shared by the person and provide reassurance, where possible. | ||
Consider whether the adult (or their representative) is seeking short- or long-term solutions, individual improvements, or collective policy change. Are they looking for an acceptable solution that will immediately improve their quality of life, or aiming for a policy change that could benefit many people receiving services but may take more time to achieve? Both are valid goals, but the first may be the priority for the adult receiving care. Residents or their advocates may want to pursue policy change after resolving the immediate individual issue. | Consider whether the adult (or their representative) is seeking short- or long-term solutions, individual improvements, or collective policy change. Are they looking for an acceptable solution that will immediately improve their quality of life, or aiming for a policy change that could benefit many people receiving services but may take more time to achieve? Both are valid goals, but the first may be the priority for the adult receiving care. Residents or their advocates may want to pursue policy change after resolving the immediate individual issue. | ||