I read the article and have not been able to stop thinking about it. A patient advocate is being sued for doing a job we all do every day. I know very well that in CA it is crucial for a person to remain hospitalized if they have any chance of getting onto the MediCal Waiver program. The only way there would be a good outcome for her client was…[Read more]

Katie, I work with these Senior Housing placement professionals. I refer my clients to them, explaining in detail how they work on a commission basis. I am curious how you would “subcontract” with them, can you explain further? Thanks!

Hi Sunni,

See if there is a way to set your location to a Service Area, rather than a specific address. Google Business Profiles offer that option for businesses that don’t have a physical address. For example, my service area is listed in my Google business profile as “Atlanta Metropolitan Area, GA, USA”.

Hope this helps!
Ashley Abuel

Kimberly, I am replying here as a resource for others, and will also email you.

You may want to have the nephew reach out to https://agingwisdom.com/alzheimers-dementia-care-management/.

This is a care management company focusing on Dementia. They have been around for a very long time and have excellent reputation. Anytime I had reached out…[Read more]

Trisha,
As I wrote the above. I said out loud – Let’s hope Trisha responds to this. Trisha, I am an open book and I would absolutely let clients know she works on commission. You taught me well and the Allegiance Factor is such a big part of who we are as advocates. Your suggestions give me other ways to consider my scenario. I appreciate your…[Read more]

Katy – the question about the woman who works on commission boils down to allegiance. (This is what you read in the post you cited.) Since she is paid on commission, her allegiance has to be to the organization that pays her – and not to the client. Further, since there are probably numerous facilities that pay her varying commissions (not just…[Read more]

Thank you Katy for your question.

Hello Everyone,
I have a similar question: I know someone who is a licensed and certified Grief Counselor.
She told me she has a business license for something else but that her Grief Couseling falls under the license also. She wants to know is it possible for her to work with me in my advocate business, as a…[Read more]

Hi – just saw your post.

I did have a terrible time with this too – eventually I ended up verifying through my website instead of address. Hope that helps!

Katy,
I had a client that wanted to go out of network, HMO would only pay claims for providers within 150 miles of their home address. The current treating provider referred her to a colleague that was farther away. The only way we got around it was to have my client apply for financial assistance, approved at 100%. Now they go there yearly for…[Read more]

Thanks Carolyn. I have all my clients complete a form about what info can be shared with who. I have been thinking of doing what you outline in terms of having the client sign a contract that doesn’t outline costs, and having that info instead on the Guarantor agreement. Sounds like what you do is similar except that the Guarantor signs the…[Read more]

Hi Cheryl. I’ve had this issue come up before. I typically have the person paying me sign the standard contract. I take out the sections about payment and have the person needing my services sign that. In most cases, the person needing services has wanted the paying person to stay involved in their care. I have a 3-way phone call to make sure e…[Read more]

Hi @LBeck805 – Thanks for your comment but I’d like to give a little context since your suggestion doesn’t always fit the situation. Since Dena and I took over APHA, the way we approach it is to ask the writer/reporter how they want to connect with advocates. Sometimes, they want us to field interest and forward advocate contact information so…[Read more]

Hi Adrina – I suggest you contact the journalist directly. In my experience, APHA provides these “media opportunity” postings as a way for members to connect with the media. It does not facilitate the connection any further.
Linda Beck
Square One Elder & Health Advocacy