Advocating for Your Elderly Parent or Spouse

Kim Hegwood | February 19, 2025

“We put physicians on such a high pedestal sometimes,
which isn’t a bad thing unless it prevents us from doing our job of being an
advocate. And so just realize, that one, they’re human too. Two, remember your
job is as an advocate. It is your right to ask questions and to speak up on
behalf of the patient.”— Erin Gaylean
Welcome to “Life Happens with Kim Hegwood” where
we discuss the challenges that arise in life. In this week’s episode “Be
Your Parent’s Advocate,” Kim is joined by guest Erin Gaylean author of
“Badass Advocate.” Together, they discuss the importance of
advocating for elderly parents or spouses in healthcare situations.

Topics covered in the podcast:

1. Personal advocacy for patients with serious conditions- The importance of
having a personal advocate- Techniques for asking good questions in healthcare
situations- The value of open and closed-ended questions- Tips for prioritizing
and writing down questions- The role of nurses as a valuable source of
knowledge

2. Careful and tactful communication with healthcare providers- The pedestal
effect and the right to ask questions- Effective communication strategies for
optimal outcomes- An example of asking difficult questions for informed
decisions

3. Caregiving for sick loved ones- Importance of building a support team-
Outside-the-box thinking for finding help- Resources available to support
caregivers

How to Contact Erin

www.badassadvocate.com & erin@badassadvocate.com

Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/badassadvocate

Badass Advocate (@badassadvocate) • Instagram photos and videos

https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-advocate

Erin(@eringalyean) | TikTok

Badass Advocate (@BadassAdvocate) / Twitter

My book comes in paperback, kindle, and audio and is on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734346000

Barnes
& Noble:

Badass Advocate: Becoming the Champion Your Seriously Ill Loved One Deserves by Erin
Galyean, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Bio:

Erin Galyean is a published author and professional speaker. In 2020, Erin published
her first book Badass Advocate: Becoming the Champion Your Loved One
Deserves. Badass Advocate, an information-packed and action-oriented book, teaches family
caregivers how to lead the charge when dealing with a loved one’s health
crisis. After losing her father, Mike, to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Erin was
determined to be an unstoppable advocate for her sister, Meghan who was also diagnosed
with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and a rare lung disease. With over 20 years of
experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Erin was able to use her
professional knowledge to ensure her sister received the best care.

Today, Erin shares her heartbreaking life events and the lessons she learned so others
can make a difference in their loved one’s healthcare experience. Her book, Badass
Advocate includes 8 actionable strategies that are both effective and
simple to follow. Erin also published a set of journals to help caregivers
better balance self-care with patient care. Through her book, journals, and
website (www.badassadvocate.com), Erin shares an abundance of valuable
information that will teach families how to effectively navigate the challenges
they face.

Contact Kim Hegwood

Elder Law Attorney Website: https://www.yourlegacylegalcare.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourLegacyLegalCare

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourlegacylegalcare/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourlegacylegalcare/

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