Health Advocacy
A Wider Horizons Health Advocate is an individual who provides direct and personalized services to a member and/or their family seeking health care. This typically includes interacting with a member’s healthcare professionals, attending appointments, medical translation, appointment setting and coordination, asserting client’s patient rights, communication, and identification of medical/health resources.
Wider Horizons recommends you consider and identify at least one person who could serve as a health advocate for you. Ideally, that person is younger than you, possibly either a family member, or a good friend. In addition, Wider Horizons can refer you to other trained WH members, one of whom could be on your health advocacy team. Those members also receive support in their role from our Executive Director (an experienced health advocate). Preparing for a Serious Health Event, one of our publications, discusses the role of the health advocate in more detail.