The role of advocacy in supporting older people
Helen, Gillian and Terri are Senior Advocates at Your Voice Counts and share their perspective on the role advocacy plays in ensuring older people have a voice in this blog as part of our International Day of Older People series #IDOP2024.
‘Supporting older people in our community is more than just a job—it's a commitment to ensuring dignity and respect for everyone.’
Supporting older people through advocacy is about more than just offering help—it's about making sure their rights, needs, and voices are truly heard, especially when they are navigating complex decisions around health, care, and living arrangements. From the perspective of managing a team of advocates working with older individuals, the impact we make goes far beyond practical assistance.
For instance, we often see older individuals with dementia or those under a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) order who struggle to make their wishes clear. In these cases, our advocates ensure that they are actively involved in care reviews, helping them express their preferences and, when necessary, challenging decisions that don’t align with their best interests.
Another example of the vital work we do involves supporting older people who may not have close family members or friends to help them. This gap in support can lead to feelings of isolation and exclusion from important decisions. Our advocacy services help fill that gap by offering independent information and supporting individuals in exploring their options and choices. We help them understand the potential consequences, ensuring they can make informed decisions about their healthcare, housing, and wellbeing.
Our advocates don’t speak for older people; they empower them to take control of their lives, giving them the confidence to express their wishes in situations where they might otherwise feel powerless. This is why advocacy in the older community is not just a job—it's a commitment to ensuring dignity and respect for everyone we support.'
For more information about our advocacy services, visit www.yvc.org.uk/adovcacy.
For our International Day of Older People series, visit Helping older people have a voice (yvc.org.uk).
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