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Patient Advocacy 101

Many of our seniors are cancelling doctors’ appointments, discontinuing therapy sessions, and barring caregivers from their homes. In most cases these seniors are “stuck” in their homes with nobody laying eyes on them to assess their cognitive, physical and emotional well-being.

The severity of the effects isolation has is unprecedented. While we can’t grasp how this will play out, we do know the drain on cognitive reserve and physical status can only be determined once a professional assesses, and provides options to improve their quality of life. Here are a few things we can do to make the best of the situation and preserve our loved ones’ well-being:

• Verifying that they have not only enough food, but the right foods
• Ensure they are compliant with medications
• Explore new or different medication regimens to address depression or anxiety
• Make sure the staples, such as hydration, sleep, clean clothes, etc. are tended to
• Arrange for interactions that allow you to see your loved one, via zoom, a drive by visit, or another platform

Can we say with certainty “My loved one’s life is the best it can be”? A key to patient advocacy is knowing the issues first. In this time, more than ever, when children of our seniors cannot visit, and there is no one checking in, oversight is crucial. Only once we understand the challenges can we be effective advocates.

Warm Regards,

Shari Markowitz Geller, MSW, CMC

President, Senior Options Inc.

Legal Matters

Not all Advanced Directives are Created Equal. A well written Health Care Advanced Directive and financial Durable Power-of-Attorney are key estate planning documents for any adult, and especially for seniors. As people age or if abilities to independently take care of one’s own affairs diminish, entrusting a loved one through properly drafted advanced directive legal documents is key to ensuring decisions can be made especially during a crisis. During difficult times is not the time to find out that a loved one’s legal documents are not well written. Consult with an experienced and well qualified elder law and estate planning attorney to determine if updates to legal documents are necessary to make decisions for a loved one should a crisis occur or allow for asset protection planning so a senior loved one does not exhaust their savings if long term care is needed.