First, you may want to decide what services you need. Here are some things to think about:
Do you need someone to bathe and dress you or a family member?
This may be a caregiver or an aide. Someone who is trained to treat someone’s needs.
Home health and personal care aides monitor the condition of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and help them with daily living activities.
This can mean helping with washing, dressing, meals and some light housekeeping.
A companion may be someone who visits a person needing support because of their medical condition: they may be disabled or just elderly. A companion can keep you (or someone in your family or a friend) company. A companion might take you or someone for walks, the movies or out for a meal.
A patient advocate would help someone who needs support while in the care of the healthcare system. Like anyone who “advocates” for someone or some cause, a patient advocate would support a patient. That can mean assisting with getting services such as researching or organizing medications, finding an attorney to help with advance directives or helping to research a doctor who might specialize in certain diseases. A patient advocate can help organize medical care or even help with medical billing. A patient advocate may not be an expert at what a person needs but can help find the services a person needs to move forward with their medical care and treatment. A patient advocate can be short-term or long-term and can be a friend, family member or a hired professional.
If you are thinking of looking for a patient advocate, first decide what it is you want them to do. Develop a checklist, because it may mean finding more than one person.
If you are thinking of becoming a patient advocate and not sure what you want to do to help others, consider volunteering to build your references and experience. Decide what you want to do and get good at it. (Some things may need official training such as an aide or caregiver).
Learn what you can that interests you. Do you want to work with children with disabilities? Adults with dementia, maybe veterans or specific illnesses such as cancer or Parkinsons disease. Are you good at billing, have a background working with insurance companies?
Work on a business plan of what you would like to do. What is your vision for the next five years? Put it in writing to make a vision a reality. You don’t have to plan this as a career yet, learn what you like. Attend Pulse programs where we encourage learning, sharing and support. https://www.pulsecenterforpatientsafety.org/programs
Helpful Resources:
Additional Checklists Caregiver Worksheets | National Institute on Aging
NIH Caregiver Checklist/ Worksheet Worksheet: Coordinating Caregiving
Register now for the 2-day training and seminar and get the early bird rate. Join us on March 27 & 28, 2025 and you may even find a new career as a Patient Advocate! https://www.pulsecenterforpatientsafety.org/fcpa
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