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EVERYONE NEEDS A
HEALTHCARE

ADVOCATE

WHO’S YOURS?

by Sandra Lee Buxton
ROLE OF AN ADVOCATE

Definition - A person who speaks up for or writes
on behalf of another, defending or pleading a cause, an
intercessor.
Informal Roles - Verbal requests to another to
take certain actions on your behalf.
HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE, A FORMAL ROLE

This is a legal document in which you determine
who you want as your spokesperson and what their
responsibilities will be. There are different titles
representing specific roles from a Durable Power
of Attorney to a Healthcare Surrogate. These are
frequently the roles of family members, but not always.
In choosing an Advocate consider these factors:
* Choose someone that you trust with personal information.
* Determine what you trust this person to do, or to be knowledgeable about. Example - should they make all
decisions for you or only if you’re unable to speak
for yourself?
If a Healthcare professional is obtained for a
specific duration of time, common functions are:
1. Schedule doctor appointments and
accompany the person during the visits.
Many times, it also requires reinforcing the
directives of the physician.
If a visit to the ER or hospitalization is required
an Advocate can accompany or meet at the
hospital to oversee care and coordinate additional
services while keeping in contact with the Primary
Care Provider. For this to work seamlessly you
have previously given written permission for
the Advocate to receive and provide medical
information. Without that document healthcare
providers must keep all personal information protected and cannot discuss these matters.
2. An Advocate can work on your behalf for as long as you need them, it could be a onetime event, or a long-term
relationship. It’s a personal decision based on one’s own circumstances.
If you live alone or have no family members in Naples, this role is even more important. The best time to make a plan
is prior to a crisis. See your Attorney or Wealth Management Advisor to discuss what’s best for you. You’ll be pleased
with the security that this important decision brings.

16 Life in Naples | March 2017