Common Questions
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Who should use The Elder’s Advocate tools?
The Elder’s Advocate is intended to help anyone who is a caregiver and is facing critical transition points in the care of their loved one.
Who is a “caregiver”?
A caregiver is anyone who provides assistance to another person who cannot live fully independently due to physical, psychological, or mental frailty. Caregiving activities cover a broad range, from visiting every few days and/or providing occasional help with chores to living with someone full-time in order to provide on-going assistance with daily needs.
How can I use The Elder’s Advocate?
The Elder’s Advocate website includes six topics that you can use to help you identify some of the issues that may be important to think about in making decisions regarding the care your loved one needs. It will help you to collect the information you have, identify the information you may still need to get, consider your and your loved one’s preferences and values regarding possible options and help you find resources.
Start by selecting the topic that you and your loved one are now considering. The topic will open with an Introduction to the Topic / Important Information page. Next is a Situation Review containing a series of statements to help you think about your loved one’s needs, the information you have and the information you may want to get in order to be able to make the best choice. Each statement is followed by several possible responses. Click on the response that is most accurate for you. Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers.
When you print out the Situation Review. the print out will include an Interpretation of Your Responses. The Interpretation is provided to help you to think about the options that may make sense for you and your loved one in light of your particular responses to the Situation Review.
Are there right and wrong responses to the statements in the Situation Reviews?
No There are no right or wrong responses to the statements in the Situation Reviews. Each caregiver faces a unique set of circumstances and a unique relationship to the person he or she is caring for. Caregivers will have very different outside obligations, physical and emotional capacities, available resources, and family history. The only purpose of The Elder’s Advocate is to help you determine the course that will be best for you and your loved one.
Do I need to respond to every statement?
Some statements in the Situation Review may not apply to you and some you may not be ready or able to answer. You do not need to respond to every statement. However, the more statements you do respond to, the fuller will be your understanding of where you and your loved one are with regard to the decision that you are facing.
Can I use The Elder’s Advocate as often as I need to?
Absolutely! Caregivers often have many questions so it makes sense to use any of the tools that might be helpful to you. And, over time, your situation might change and the decisions you are facing may change as well. Use The Elder’s Advocate as often as you need to and whenever you think it would be helpful to take another look at where you and your loved one are regarding the choices that are available for you.
Will The Elder’s Advocate tell me what I should do?
No. The Elder’s Advocate website is not intended to tell you what you should do. Rather, it is intended to help you think about the best option for you and your loved one by pointing out important things to consider in making a decision, identifying information that you have as well as information that you still need to gather, helping you to identify the resources that you have as well as those you do not have and where you may find help.
How can I use the print out of my responses?
When you have completed the Situation Review you will find Next Steps on how to print out your responses and a guide to interpreting them. You can use the print out of your responses along with the accompanying Interpretation of Your Responses to get a clearer picture where you are, of the things you might not yet have considered but that might be helpful to think about in making the decision you are facing. It will let you know where you may need to get more information from your loved one or others. You can also use the print out to determine what resources will be helpful to you.
Will I be able to find helpful resources once I have completed a Situation Review?
The Interpretation of Your Responses will include website links for relevant resources. You can find additional resources by clicking on the Resources link that follows each Situation Review. The resources provided for each topic will give you a starting point for finding the information and supports that will be helpful to you. Becoming aware of the resources that are available for you and your loved one may help you weigh the options you have. Second, after you have made a decision, identifying available resources will help you in carrying out your decision.