Director's Message
Advocacy December 2007Advocacyad·vo·cate / n 1: one that pleads the cause of another; 2: one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal --Websters Dictionary When many people think about advocacy, they think about political action, such as the activities organized by AARP where masses gather at the State House to support legislation or bus loads descend on Washington, DC on behalf of a cause. In this issue I want to urge you to consider how well you advocate for yourself. Advocating for oneself means speaking up about what you need in a variety of situations, such as family, doctors, and business transactions. Each of these situations has different dynamics which may require different tactics on your part. First you need to identify what you need, or want to say, and then how you want to say it. Good advocacy requires that you state your position clearly and concisely, without antagonism or blame. It is also a good idea to fully research the issue, so that you can advocate from a position of strength and knowledge. Often we are intimidated by the power of the other person, or the force with which they express their position. For example, it is difficult to challenge a doctor if you think she knows everything about a health condition and you know nothing. However, no one knows your body like you do and perhaps your research indicates that many people with a similar condition have had a test that your doctor hasn’t done. Advocate for yourself by asking the doctor whether she/he has considered it. Or by asking for a second opinion. Go to a doctor’s appointment with a list of what you want to talk about and make sure it gets addressed. Another example is in a business transaction. Are you able to advocate for yourself if a contractor does not show up when promised or leaves out part of a job you thought would be included? What about when you are billed incorrectly or get the wrong merchandise? There are also times when you need to advocate for yourself with your family. Are you able to ask for the help you need or assert how you feel when your children insist you come live with them? Some of these situations can be really hard, especially when we were raised that it was impolite to challenge authority or speak up. But if you don’t do it, who will? Last, I want to suggest that we can also play an important role in advocating for each other. A friend or family member can be a key advocate when someone goes to the doctor or hospital, when anxiety and anesthesia make advocacy challenging. Be the one to ensure that proper care is given and take notes when the doctors give their rapid explanations. Sometimes it may be necessary to alert family members to an area of concern, particularly if they don’t visit often to see for themselves, or to advocate directly with the friend to come in for help. So, in this holiday season, give the gift of caring through advocacy, to yourself or someone you care about. Susan W. Hoskins LCSW |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |