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How To Use The Elder’s Advocate

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Organization of Each Topic

The Elder’s Advocate consists of six topics with tools to assist you and your loved one make the significant care decisions you are facing. Each topic includes:

  • An Introduction to the Topic / Important Information offering an overview of the subject matter and background information that will be helpful for understanding your available options
  • A Situation Review that will help you (a) Clarify your own  and your loved one’s needs, values, preferences and abilities; (b)  Identify the information you have and information you may need to get; (c) Become aware of and understand available care options; and (d) Find relevant resources.
  • An Interpretation of Your Responses to help you understand what your responses to the Situation Review suggest about the options you, your loved one and your family may want to consider.
  • Resources that are relevant to the particular topic you are exploring and will assist you in finding the support you and your loved one may need.

Each Situation Review contains a number of statements for you to consider. Each statement is followed by several possible responses. Click on the response that most nearly seems correct for you.  Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers.

You will be able to print out a paper copy of the Situation Review, including the Interpretation of Your Responses. By going over the paper copy you will  get a clearer sense of the information you have and the information you need,  of your, your loved one’s and your family’s values, preferences and abilities, and how to start putting resources in place to address the issue you are facing.  Save the print-out and come back to it if you want to review your responses and the available resources again.

Navigating The Elder’s Advocate

Wherever you are in The Elder’s Advocate website, you can return to the homepage by clicking on the name “The Elder’s Advocate” in the upper left corner of the blue banner along the top of each page.  If you are exploring one topic and decide you want to go to another topic, click on the  ”Caregiving Topics” link in the blue banner along the top of each page. Some pages will also have the same list of topic links along the left hand side of the page. You can also select a topic there.

Directions for Using The Elder’s Advocate

Below is a list of six topics. Click on the topic of concern for you and your loved one.  After reading the Introduction/Important Information for the topic, click on the Click to Proceed button  at the top of the page to open the Situation Review.  Each Situation Review has a number of statements on several pages.  The number of statements contained in a Situation Review is stated at the top of its opening page . When you have responded to the statements on one page of a Situation Review, move to the next page by clicking the “Next” button. There is a “Next” button on the right at the top and bottom of each page.

At the end of the Situation Review you will find Next Steps for printing out your responses along with an Interpretation of Your Responses and  resources that will be helpful with the topic you are exploring.

After you have printed out the paper copy of your documents, please take a moment and click on the Evaluation button to take a short survey. We value your feedback about The Elder’s Advocate! Thank you!

Click on the topic below that interests you and begin using The Elder’s Advocate!

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