Advocating for Your Elderly Parent or Spouse

<p><em> &quot;We put physicians on such a high pedestal sometimes, which isn&#39;t a bad thing unless it prevents us from doing our job of being an advocate. And so just realize, that one, they&#39;re human too. Two, remember your job is as an advocate. It is your right to ask questions and to speak up on behalf of the patient.&quot;— Erin Gaylean</em></p> <p> </p> <p>Welcome to &quot;Life Happens with Kim Hegwood&quot; where we discuss the challenges that arise in life. In this week&#39;s episode &quot;Be Your Parent&#39;s Advocate,&quot; Kim is joined by guest Erin Gaylean author of &quot;Badass Advocate.&quot; Together, they discuss the importance of advocating for elderly parents or spouses in healthcare situations.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Topics covered in the podcast:</strong></p> <p><br> 1. Personal advocacy for patients with serious conditions- The importance of having a personal advocate- Techniques for asking good questions in healthcare situations- The value of open and closed-ended questions- Tips for prioritizing and writing down questions- The role of nurses as a valuable source of knowledge</p> <p><br> 2. Careful and tactful communication with healthcare providers- The pedestal effect and the right to ask questions- Effective communication strategies for optimal outcomes- An example of asking difficult questions for informed decisions</p> <p><br> 3. Caregiving for sick loved ones- Importance of building a support team- Outside-the-box thinking for finding help- Resources available to support caregivers</p> <p> </p> <p>How to Contact Erin</p> <p> <a href="http://www.badassadvocate.com">www.badassadvocate.com</a> &amp; <a href="mailto:erin@badassadvocate.com">erin@badassadvocate.com</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Social Media Links:</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/badassadvocate">https://www.facebook.com/badassadvocate</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/badassadvocate/">Badass Advocate (@badassadvocate) • Instagram photos and videos</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/compa