Patient Advocacy for Solo Agers

A live and interactive discussion with Nancy Ruffner BCPA as we discuss independent Patient Advocacy, an industry seeing rapid growth for good reason: the gaping need for advocacy in medical navigation, healthcare education, and the support it offers. Nancy Ruffner is in the thick it - offering consultative services for individuals, teaching and speaking nationally, and working inside professional organizations. Nancy’s focus is on successful aging and is herself a Solo Ager. She uses her expertise to journey with clients, helping them to navigate the matters of Medical, Legal, Financial, Insurance, Housing and Support to move more comfortably forward.

Here are the professional organizations and the certification board. All sites have more about what we do, who we are, how to pursue the certification-

You may search by zip code, state, and may often filter by the kind of services you are seeking-

• APHA - The Alliance of Professional Healthcare Advocateshttps://advoconnection.com/
• NAHAC - The National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultantshttps://www.nahac.com/find-an-advocate#!directory/map
• HealthAdvocateXhttps://www.healthadvocatex.org/directory-professional/
• Greater National Advocates (a directory)https://www.gnanow.org/
• Here is the Patient Advocacy Certification Board (is a credentialing body)https://www.pacboard.org/

Power Point: Patient Advocacy for Solo Agers.pptx.pdf

Questions Asked:

• I am a RN licenced in a few states. I am very interested in becoming a BCPA. Can I reach out to you with quesions in an email?
• How are you paid (one time fee, yearly, etc)? What happens to your patients when you either retire or pass away before them, who takes over their care?
• Are you limited, professionally or personally, to taking clients that only live in your state?
• What is the difference between a patient advocate and the duties a aging life care manager provides?
• Regarding safety, what are your thoughts about people who have capacity and don’t value safety as their primary concern (vs. staying in their own home, for example).
• How do I become BCPA I feel the need in my Spanish Community
• What are the requirements to be a patient advocate?
• Are you insured and bonded? Given the prevalence of elder abuse and financial fraud is there any checks and balances? Especially for those are not mentally competent. How do you handle solo ages who do not have anyone to pay your periodic fee and they are unable to do it themselves.
• Does Medicaid which would pay for care in a nursing home after your money runs out, pay for care at home instead?
• To clarify, my question was how does one pay if they do not have the mental capacity to do so and they also do not have anyone to provide that function
• "Do you ever work in conjunctions with Solo Agers who wish to work with their friends as well as a professional such as yourself? Beverly Bernstein Joie, MS, CMC Complete Care Strategies Co-Founder"
• I understand 80% of nursing home patients are paid for by Medicaid.
• Can you please put the links to the professional organizations in to the chat. Also a link to the savvy solo chat group. Thanks
• How does one get the Solo Ager Sourcebook?
• If possible if the parent doesn't want to apply can we get a Power of Atty?

Chat Transcript

12:06:57     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : The recording and chat will be available this afternoon at this link https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/

12:07:38     From  Natalie Doyle   to   Hosts and panelists : Thanks so much for recording, etc…

12:08:39     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : nancy@nancyruffner.com

12:09:51     From  Glenna Crooks   to   Hosts and panelists : Steve, I accidentally hit the 'raise hand' button. I believe I have removed it. I didn't mean to raise my hand.

12:11:53     From  Joe Sperling : Everyone wants to keep living but noone wants to get OLD.

12:20:17     From  veda vazquez : Will we receive a copy of the slides and the chat?

12:20:36     From  E Bu : are patient advocate costs deductible as medical expenses?

12:30:59     From  Joe Sperling : Anyone, no matter their age, if they become hospitalized or enters a care setting, NEEDS to have an advocate and adviser.  As a patient, we are generally just not able to handle all of the details.

12:31:26     From  veda vazquez : I agree Joe

12:39:00     From  Jennifer Brown : Jennifer Brown - Seabury Care Management - 202-364-0020 - jmbrown@seaburyresources.com

12:42:20     From  Catherine Freedberg   to   Hosts and panelists : How if one employs someone from out side one’s geography, what role does patient advocate play in locating good bedside logistics mgr etc. if one needs to be hospitalized?

12:42:39     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Board Certified Patient Advocate https://www.pacboard.org/

12:50:12     From  Shanti Subramanian   to   Hosts and panelists : Even tho' I don't need an advocate yet ( thank god ) - can I provide Your contact info to my children for future if they find long distance care difficult ?or should I be te one engaging an advocate =

12:52:26     From  Helen Wintrob : What does someone do if a parent is entitled to Medicaid but doesn't want to apply for it. Helen Wintrob

12:52:48     From  linda a   to   Hosts and panelists : great questions,  also can we please continue with her presentation?

12:57:41     From  E Bu   to   Hosts and panelists : are advocate expenses deductible as medical expenses?

12:58:32     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Savvy Solos members are people who are aging alone, managing their lifestyle without the benefit of built-in family. Some know us as “Elder Orphans”, or “Solo Agers” or simply “Solos”. Whatever moniker we choose for ourselves we can all become savvy. https://www.nancyruffner.com/savvy-solos/

12:59:04     From  steve jefferys : Good idea to have the file of life (emergency contacts, drugs, conditions, etc.) on or in your refrigerator.

12:59:24     From  Glenna Crooks   to   Hosts and panelists : This was terrific! Thank you!

12:59:41     From  veda vazquez : Nancy, what an upbeat and inspiration presentation. thank you

13:04:12     From  linda a   to   Hosts and panelists : Do/Can PAs ever work in a contractual capacity with other social service agencies, for example JSSA?   Jewish Social Services ...

13:07:21     From  Fran Sanderson   to   Hosts and panelists : This has been awesome. Thank you both very much!

13:07:27     From  Joy Loverde   to   Hosts and panelists : Excellent presentation Nancy and Steve!

13:07:33     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : of great resources in our Postistive Aging Sourcebooks https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/digital

13:08:48     From  Caryn Isaacs : Wonderful job Nancy. Thank you for representing all Patient Advocates.

13:10:33     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : https://www.talk-early-talk-often.com/

13:11:40     From  Catherine Freedberg   to   Hosts and panelists : Yes! Thank you!

13:12:03     From  Sonja Barsky   to   Hosts and panelists : great job