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Thanksgiving Brings Opportunities for Health Advocates, and Gratitude from Friends
With Thanksgiving and the holiday season right around the corner, smart health advocates can uncover golden opportunities to expand their reach in many positive ways. The holidays are family times. Generations come together and inevitably someone is facing a health and/or health system challenge. Aunt Kate has a new cancer diagnosis and hasn’t even considered a second opinion. Dad needs help with sorting out his meds – questions about whether he’s taking the right drugs at the right times, or whether the prescriptions he’s taking are causing some new symptoms become evident. Cousin Jack is drowning in medical debt because he doesn’t know how to fight a denied claim, or choose the right health insurance plan. Uncle Victor, age 78, doesn’t have a DNR or a will because he doesn’t understand their importance. These are the times family members wonder who can help out. The answer is YOU – a friend, a neighbor, a fellow church or temple congregant. YOU can help them. They probably just don’t know it. There are a few non-intrusive ways you can quite simply just let them know that you are available should the need arise. Here are a few things you can do to get the word out. Begin by making a list of 10 or more friends and acquaintances you have phone numbers or email addresses for. Now, put together some sentences that address each of the following: 1. Greetings – as the holiday season arrives. 2. You want to let them know that you are now working as a patient (or health) advocate in private practice. 3. That when families come together during the holidays, they often raise topics that are difficult or uncomfortable to discuss relating to health matters, or hurdles that are caused by health problems… 4. That, as a health advocate, you might be able to help them out, by smoothing out some of the bumps. 5. For example, (then list 2,3 or more services you might provide). Be sure to mention the peace of mind that comes from having someone who can be objective help them deal with…