Advocacy

What Is Advocacy?

An advocate’s role is to partner with their loved one to understand their needs and desires then identify resources and tools that deliver the best possible care for them. By asking them questions and being the one to support their wishes, advocates are able to express their goals and needs if their loved one is unable to. Advocacy crosses all areas of life, including but not limited to health, spirituality, finances, home preferences, and end of life plans.

What Is Self Advocacy?

Self-advocacy is what individuals often do daily to support their own needs, finding the best ways to care for their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Speaking openly about personal wishes, such as how we want to be cared for, nurtured, and spoken to, is important so others can understand our perspective and become our advocates should we ever be unable to speak for ourselves.

Advocacy Examples

Advocacy is unique to each individual, but it often begins with researching what tools and options may be available to meet an individual’s needs. From there, an advocate should ask intentional questions, observe daily activities and practices, think about future needs, and communicate clearly with their loved one. Helping someone document their medical wishes and end of life planning or discussing long term care plans as they age allows advocates to speak on their behalf if needed.