TalkElder Blog

Being Your Parent's Advocate During Illness and Hospitalization patient advocacy Jul 03, 2024

As a nurse, I’ve seen firsthand the critical role that family members play in the care and recovery of patients. But when it’s your parent lying in that hospital bed, the responsibility takes on a whole new weight.

Recently, a friend of mine visited. At the age of 50, he had already...

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Beyond The Basics: Tests Your Loved Ones May Not Know They Need patient advocacy Mar 20, 2024

As a nurse and an adult child to aging parents, I understand wanting to keep them living their very best lives.

In my last two blogs I talked about common tests that we and our parents should have regularly to monitor our health. In this blog, we will dive deeper into tests specifically for the...

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Stay Ahead of the Curve: Vital Tests to Optimize Wellness Beyond Routine Check-ups patient advocacy Mar 13, 2024

As someone who cares deeply about your well-being, I want to share some important health tests that can help you stay on track as you navigate the wonderful journey of aging. While regular visits to the doctor are crucial, there are additional steps you can take to ensure you’re taking...

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Navigating Essential Health Checks for Aging Parents: A Nurse's Insight patient advocacy Mar 06, 2024

How will we know if there is a problem if we don’t have a starting point?

Baseline tests serve as a crucial starting point in understanding our loved ones current health status and detecting any deviations from the norm. But what the heck are the tests they need and for goodness sake what...

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8 Essential Questions to Master Your Parent’s New Prescriptions medication patient advocacy Feb 28, 2024

As a nurse who’s been around the block a few times in the healthcare world, I’ve picked up a thing or two about making the most out of doctor’s appointments. Especially when it comes to the subject of medications.

As we assist our parents with health management it’s...

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Navigating the Maze of Specialists patient advocacy Feb 21, 2024

Let’s talk about something super important but often overlooked: How to know what specialists to go to and why?

Diving into the world of medical specialists? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Think of me as your friendly neighborhood nurse, here to spill the beans on who’s...

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Unlocking the Truth about Polypharmacy medication management patient advocacy Feb 14, 2024

Let’s talk about something super important but often overlooked: Polypharmacy.

Medication management becomes increasingly relevant as our loved ones age. With all those prescriptions floating around, it’s easy for things to get complicated. That’s where Polypharmacy comes...

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Keeping Track: A Guide to Managing Your Parents' Medications medication management patient advocacy Feb 07, 2024

Let’s talk about something super important but often overlooked: managing your aging parents’ medications. 

First, keeping an updated list of your parents’ medications can be a lifesaver. It helps prevent mix-ups and ensures that healthcare providers have the complete...

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The Vital Role of Patient Advocacy: Being One or Hiring One patient advocacy Jan 31, 2024

As a nurse with years of experience in the healthcare field, this is a topic I feel very strongly about.

Between doctor’s appointments, medical specialists, diagnostic testing, and hospital admissions. The healthcare system can be so overwhelming, and it can quickly become an incredible...

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