How to Help Care for Aging Parents from A Distance

First and foremost, it is important to note you cannot be everywhere. There are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week and no matter hard we try we cannot change that fact. You can provide help for your parents even if you live far away...
| by Karen Kopan

Let's Get Serious: Have The Conversation

What effect would a serious illness have on you and your family? According to the Journal of Palliative Care Medicine, a serious illness is a condition that carries a high risk of mortality, negatively impacts quality of life and daily function...

Why You Need a Healthcare Advocate

Question: If you have a legal issue, do you go directly to a judge? In most cases no, you hire an attorney, a trusted advisor that knows the legal system. If you want to invest, do you go directly to the stock market? In most cases no, you hire a...
| by Althea P Halchuck

If at First, You Don’t Succeed…Yada, Yada, Yada

Perseverance, the secret of all triumphs. Victor Hugo I recently heard discussed in a webinar on succeeding in business. A compiled definition: perseverance is a steady, persistent effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, obstacles...
| by Ilene Corina

TakeCHARGE of Your Healthcare Proxy.... Before There's an Accident

I got the phone call that all parents dread. “Mom, Matt was in a serious car accident on his way home.” I tried to call the hospital half-way across the country to find out what happened to my youngest son. No one would talk to me. They wouldn’t...
| by Susan Nolan

Aging Alone: Make a Plan

Aging Alone. We all know someone who is aging and wants to remain independent in their own home. Many in this growing population are finding themselves aging alone without the support of adult children, spouse, relatives, or friends. Studies have...
| by David Fielding

Planning Ahead of a Crisis

When we think of ‘Advance Directives’, most of us prefer to put it off for another day. “I’ll get to it later.” we say to ourselves. But what if the emergency happened today and there wasn’t time to prepare? What is important to you? Does anyone...
| by Dianne Savastano

Young Adults and the Healthcare System

Not long ago, I was chatting with a special teenager in my life. As we talked, he asked, “What do you do for work?” I knew he had medical issues that required some specialist care, and so I said that I help people to talk with their doctor. I was...
| by Lori Nerbonne

Why The TakeCHARGE Campaign Is So Important

I’m a nurse, turned patient safety advocate. And I want to let you in on one of the best-kept secrets many of us in this field have learned as we help patients navigate our complex healthcare system. But before I do that, I want to introduce you...
| by Nicole Broadhurst

Health Spending Accounts: Alphabet Soup Simplified

What is the alphabet soup of health spending accounts? There are FSA’s, HRA’s, and HSA’s. What are they? Which one do you have and which one do you need? Today we are going to simplify these accounts to better understand each one and which one you...
| by Ilene Corina

Why Should TakeCHARGE Matter to Patient Advocates

The TakeCharge Campaign is a public awareness campaign that has significant potential to improve patient outcomes by encouraging people to become active participants in their healthcare by following these 5 Steps. Now, in it's second year, The...
| by Angie Galatas

Symptoms of Vocal Hoarseness Led to a Complexity of Problems and Treatments.

Do you want your medical situation to choose you? If you ignore signs and symptoms, you may find that is the case.I want to share a story about someone who didn't know he had an issue. A client of mine told me they ignored their persistent...
| by Dianne Savastano

Silver Linings During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has given me a gift this winter: spending more time with my parents. We decided they would stay in Rhode Island, rather than spending the October-May timeframe in Florida, as they usually do. Having my parents nearby this...
| by Dr Elena Borrelli

What is a Board Certified Patient Advocate? And why do you need one?...

Many people are not yet familiar with a patient advocate, let alone a board-certified patient advocate. In addition, you may have heard of hospitals or insurance companies offering a patient advocate. So what’s the difference? And why do you need...
| by Dr Elena Borrelli

COVID Vaccine? Help!

What to do? Is it Right for you? Yes, Please! The emergence of the COVID-19 vaccine comes with a lot of mixed emotions. Some view it as a cure to this long pandemic-driven quarantine and the first step toward some sense of normality, with hopes to...