A health advocate (sometimes called a healthcare advocate) is someone who acts to ensure that a person’s needs, concerns, and preferences about their healthcare are addressed by medical professionals.
Historically and culturally, women have been assigned the unpaid task of overseeing and being responsible for the health of family and others. Starting in their 30s—and continuing into their 70s and beyond—women are the primary care coordinators for their families, from infants to elders. As a result, 63% of women of all ages struggle to prioritize their own health.
How can you learn to be a better champion for yourself and others? Here are some ways to obtain care that is proactive instead of reactive.
First, Take care of YOU!
To begin with, just like the safety instruction on an airplane, “Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others,” it can seem difficult to focus on your own wellbeing. Women are socialized from birth to be people-pleasers and put others first. If you don’t, you’re called “selfish.”
However, when you do make choices that prioritize your physical and mental health, you increase your energy and capacity to help others. You can lower your stress level and risk of getting sick. For example, physical self-care can be as simple as taking a daily walk or drinking more water. Other forms of self care are journaling or doing a favorite craft. The important thing is to carve out time just for you.
Getting adequate sleep is essential for your physical and mental health. Usually, how you function during the day depends on how well you sleep. Mia Vita® Sleep is a vegetarian and soy free supplement that promotes relaxation and deep quality sleep.
Second, be your own health advocate.
About 77% of millennial women say, “I am the only advocate for my health and wellbeing.” You don’t need an advanced degree to get the health care you deserve. Just follow these steps.
- Find a provider you can trust. Ask family and friends for recommendations. Check your local hospital’s website to find doctors’ credentials, specialties, and experience.
- Bring a list of questions to your appointment and ask what’s most important first. It’s okay to look up symptoms on reliable websites, such as Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, or MD Anderson (for cancer). You should appreciate the efforts of your provider by being involved and knowledgeable.
- Thirdly, Take notes. Don’t rely on your memory to recall everything after you leave. You can also ask someone to come with you to listen and be your support.
- Two-way communication is key. Be open and honest. Describe your symptoms and be familiar with your health history, medications, and allergies. If you don’t understand an answer, ask for clarification. Don’t feel shy or intimidated.
- Find out what to do next. If you need a test, ask how it’s done, how to prepare, and when you’ll get results. If you get a new prescription, ask what it’s for, how to take it, and if there are any reactions you should report. It’s also a good idea to ask for written instructions or where to find more information.
- Follow the instructions. By now, you should have a treatment plan that you understand and agree with. Contact your provider if you realize you’re confused about what to do.
- Know how to reach your provider in case of an emergency. Enough said.
- If you feel that your provider doesn’t listen, find one who does. Don’t stick with anyone who doesn’t communicate well or ignores your needs. Consider a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.
- Lastly, if your issue is specific, such as pelvic pain, visit a urogynecologist or a pelvic floor physical therapist. Specialists can work miracles.
Third, use your skills to be a health advocate for others
When a loved one becomes sick, hospitalized, or overwhelmed, your ability to be their health advocate can affect their outcome. If the person is a child, elderly, or unable to speak for themself, you become their eyes, ears, and voice.
The process is the same as your self-advocacy, with a few extra steps.
- You may need to do more initial research to become familiar with their health history.
- Introduce yourself to each provider and explain your role is important so you become a trusted member of the person’s medical team.
- Ask as many questions as necessary so you can understand the situation and then be able to explain it to the person in a way they can understand.
- If you’re also the person’s health care proxy, be sure that documentation is on file in case of an emergency. If you’re not, know how to contact the person who is legally appointed to make health care decisions for the person.
Practice Makes Perfect
It can feel uncomfortable to ask questions or express concerns to medical professionals. Yet doing your own research, making a list, and taking notes can boost your confidence. The more you advocate for yourself or others, the better you’ll get at it. With practice, you’ll easily navigate any health care system.
Sources:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Be More Engaged in Your Healthcare. Content last reviewed December 2020. Accessed online 10 November 2024.
Macias, W. Women as American Family’s health advocate, guide, or guardian: a health communication practitioner’s perspective. Frontiers in Communication, 04 October 2023, Volume 8, DOI 10.3389/fcomm.2023.1273514. Accessed online 09 November 2024.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. How Sleep Works: Why Is Sleep Important? 24 March 2022. Accessed online 10 November 2024.
National Institute on Aging. Choosing a Health Care Proxy. Content last reviewed 31 October 2022. Accessed online 10 November 2024.
Riva, M. What is Self-Care and Why Is It Important? National Council on Aging, 20 June 2024. Accessed online 09 November 2024.
theSkimm. The State of Women Report 2023, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of theSkimm.