Patient advocates play a crucial role in supporting older adults with complex medical needs. These professionals help navigate the intricacies of the healthcare system, ensuring patients receive the best possible care. They serve as a voice for patients in medical settings when needed, providing compassionate advice and comfort throughout the process. Acting as a bridge between patients, insurance companies, and healthcare providers,  patient advocates for the elderly are especially vital for those without family nearby or whose families are far away. 

What is a Patient Advocate?

Patient advocates assist individuals in navigating the complexities of the healthcare system, serving as aides, advisers, and companions. Many seniors live with multiple health conditions that require ongoing care, and patient advocates for elderly patients, also called patient navigators, support and guide patients through these challenges.

People under a patient advocate’s care may also develop new conditions. The patient advocate helps with securing appointments with specialists and guides them through the often-difficult process of screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. Their role is to ensure patients receive the best possible care, every step of the way.

Communication Support

Elderly and medically complex patients often face challenges in effectively communicating with healthcare providers. Factors such as age-related hearing loss, language difficulties, medical jargon, and dementia all contribute to difficulties in understanding and expressing concerns. As a result, seniors can be left with a poor understanding of their medical condition and treatment options. 

Patient advocates for elderly patients  help patients communicate with healthcare providers. They accompany patients to medical consultations, help ask the important questions, clarify information, and take notes for patients to review at length. This added support helps ensure elderly patients can make well-informed decisions about their care.

Hospitalizations can be very stressful for older people. The presence of a patient advocate can help alleviate feeling alone in a difficult situation. The patient advocate can also make sure the patient’s concerns are effectively conveyed to the healthcare team, improving overall quality of care.

Obtaining Information

Clear, comprehensive information about medical conditions and treatment options helps patients and families make appropriate decisions about medical treatment. However, older adults often face challenges in asking, understanding, and remembering important questions and answers from their healthcare providers. Patient advocates for elderly patients accompany patients to medical visits and help them ask essential questions.

For many seniors, remembering all the necessary questions can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with health issues. An advocate for elderly patients not only helps ask questions but also takes notes during the consultation. This support facilitates understanding and making the best choices for care. At Healthcare Advisor Nan, our team consists of several experienced nurses who can help you understand all these issues and more.

Medical Record Review

Medical records can be voluminous and poorly organized, making it difficult to obtain a clear overview of a patient’s health. An advocate for elederly patients collects, studies, and organizes the medical records to create a comprehensive picture of a patient’s health status and needs. At Healthcare Advocate Nan, this challenging task is performed by Nan, a registered nurse with over thirty years of experience in major hospitals. 

Hospitalization Support

In the event of a hospitalization, a patient advocate for elderly patients will review the in-patient charts, coordinate the care, and support the staff with specific information about their patient. The professionals at Healthcare Advisor Nan are registered nurses and become an integral part of the treating team.

Healthcare Coordination

An elderly person’s health and care can be impacted by several people and organizations, including:

• Families
• Insurance companies
• Primary healthcare provider
• Specialists
• Care managers
• Hospitals 
• Employers
• Social services
• Lawyers

An advocate for elderly patients will communicate and work with all of these parties to ensure their patient receives the best care possible in a comprehensive, compassionate manner. 

Financial and Regulatory Support

Medical care can be costly, and financial support is often necessary. Patient advocates help to: 

• Apply for health-related financial support
• Understand hospital and medical bills
• Submit and follow up on insurance claims, including appeals for denied claims 
• Access medical records

Hospitals and Veteran Affairs (VA) hospitals often have patient advocates on staff to assist patients with these matters. 

Transitioning to Hospice Care

When transitioning to hospice care becomes necessary, a patient advocate will help in the decision-making process. They will help locate the most appropriate care providers and ensure their patient’s needs for pain relief, support, and dignity are prioritized.

Healthcare Advisor Nan

We are a team of dedicated professionals committed to providing education, resources, and support to help older adults make informed decisions about their healthcare. With extensive experience navigating the healthcare system, our team of experts assists patients in organizing and accessing effective care. Whether you’re managing a long-term illness, recovering from surgery, or anxious to arrange care for a loved one, give us a call!