Greater National Advocates Blog

Everyone needs a healthcare advocate, especially in a strained health care system.  An advocate can be a friend, a family member or a hired professional, but it needs to be someone who isn’t going to let anything fall through the cracks...

By Karen Curtiss - This blog was originally published in the Care Partner Project January, 2022 newsletter. It's being re-published here because this information has the potential to save lives. Worried your loved one is "going downhill" in the...

Rare Conditions Dealing with health issues is a challenge in itself. Having a rare medical condition adds additional levels of obstacles and disarray. In addition, you may feel that your questions and concerns are being ignored or disregarded. It...

In the realm of healthcare, accessing appropriate levels of care can be a challenging and often contentious issue. For individuals requiring skilled care services, navigating the complexities of coverage and entitlements can be overwhelming...

As a registered nurse and patient advocate, I frequently receive calls from family members who have a loved one in a rehabilitation care facility. They call because they don’t feel that their family member is receiving the best care, and...

How to Plan for Aging Alone As we delve into and address the complexities of solo agingit's crucial to acknowledge the unique challenges faced by individuals who age without the traditional support network of close family. Solo agers, often...

Being a healthcare advocate for a loved one before surgery is an important job. Some surgeries are planned, and in that case, there is time to research ahead of time.  The patient and their healthcare advocate deserve to be well-informed...

All of us, if we are fortunate, will eventually grow old. Along with a great deal of wisdom and a lifetime of happy memories, old age presents a unique set of challenges. If you are trying to support a loved one who is aging – or if you...

  Free Credit Reports By law, everyone is entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit reporting agencies. In 2020, given the effects of Covid on the economy, the three agencies agreed to temporarily make...

You may have watched the Netflix special “Take Care of Maya” or saw the recent $211 Million dollar judgement against John Hopkins Hospital. As a nurse that started her career in a children’s hospital and is now a healthcare...

We celebrated my father’s 85th birthday earlier this year. Just about everyone who meets my dad makes the same remark: “He is a really GOOD 85.” (My mom also gets frequent, well-deserved props for being an equally impressive...

Collaboration between patients and medical professionals is at the heart of achieving optimal health outcomes. As a patient, you hold a pivotal role in your own healthcare. Building a genuine partnership necessitates mutual effort and...

This is the ninth in a series of blogs written by patient advocacy pioneer and longtime educator, Karen Mercereau. The Mercereau Report is designed to communicate information that is pertinent to our expanding practices - scientific and practical...

Maya Kowalski is a complex medical case. She is one of millions of patients who suffer from a chronic, complex health condition. You may already be familiar with Maya’s case though the Netflix documentary: “Take Care of Maya.&rdquo...

October isn’t just about turning leaves, pumpkins spice lattes and mammograms (although those are important too).  October is Health Literacy Month. Health literacy might not be a term that everyone is familiar with, but it is a crucial...