Today’s older adult continues to live a longer, fuller and more independent life then previous generations have experienced. With that longevity presents navigating a complex healthcare system while potentially managing a number of health issues and complications. In order to help navigate and successfully manage their self-care, it is vital that healthcare providers work to create a healthy relationship with the patient and their family to support and advocate for all healthcare needs.

Patient advocacy must be viewed as an ethical practice that allows for the representation of a patient’s assurance that their personal medical decisions are respected and aligned to realistic goals of care (McGrath P. et al., as cited in Dadzie, G. et al., 2017). These goals can be defined through either verbal expression by the patient or delineated through an advanced directive. The latter is a legally prepared document that can help reduce stress and frustration during a critical moment of decision making. It delineates the wishes of the patient that have been made beforehand of any impending patient care situation. It is important that family members are not only involved in the creation of this document, but well versed and in agreement of the patient’s wishes and needs. Too often healthcare providers are caught in the crossfire of family members debating their loved one’s care needs in a time of stress or confusion, especially when grappling with end-of-life decisions.

Through shared decision-making processes, healthcare providers can help family members understand goals of care while helping the patient and family express their desired needs (Hopeck, P, 2018). It is crucial that the patient’s voice and wishes can be clearly communicated through a loved one so that their dignity and self-worth can be lived and honored to its fullest potential.

References

Dadzie, G., Aziato, L., & de-Graft Aikins, A. (2017). We are the best to stand in for patients: a qualitative study on nurses’ advocacy characteristics in Ghana.

BMC Nursing, 16, 1-8.
Hopeck, P. (2018). Care providers’ integration of family requests in end-of-life communication: Understanding what to do and why to do it. Health Communication, 33(10), 1277-1283.

By: Eric K. Wignall, BSN, RN, CCRN
Felician University Alumni
Clinical Nurse III, Heart & Vascular Intensive Care Unit
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia PA