At this Holiday Season, the first of many to come for WASHAA, we send thanks and appreciation to all WASHAA members and friends for being an early supporter of health advocacy in Washington State and of our organization!  

We are celebrating our first year of business, having accomplished a lot thanks to your support: 

• WASHAA website is rapidly gaining traction: Several hundred unique visitors a month stop by our WASHAA website, live only since April 2013.
• Directory is in demand: The WASHAA Advocate Directory is steadily growing and is repeatedly on the top 3 most visited pages on our site every month.
• 1st event was a success: 70 people came to our 1st Annual WASHAA Meeting and learned about the State of the Industry, WASHAA's mission and exciting programs, and expanded their professional network. 
• WASHAA is at the center of educational standards discussions: We are actively involved in efforts to shape educational curricula for 2-year and 4-year colleges in our state around health/patient advocacy and care coordination.
• WASHAA is shaping national professional certification efforts: A pioneering effort is underway to establish professional standards for those that advocate for patients and two members of the WASHAA Board of Directors are actively participating in the national Patient Advocate Certification Steering Committee.   

Our organization's rapid growth, reflects the enthusiasm and need for recognition of the advocacy field, promotion of best practices and expansion of advocacy services' reach to patients and their families. We are honored to be carrying out this work and look forward to a new year full of exciting programs for our members and the public with your continued support and participation.   

My warmest wishes to you and your family this Holiday Season.
Happy Holidays - Healthy, Prosperous and Happy 2014! 

Io Dolka
WASHAA Executive Director

How are your folks really doing? As we head into the holiday season, more likely than not you will be seeing some of your family and friends, both young and old. The holidays are an exceptional time to check in on your older relatives to truly see how they are faring. While bringing up topics such as their finances, driving or their overall health are not easy areas of discussion, it can be one of the most useful conversations to have.

A timely AARP article emphasizes the importance of taking time to witness how one’s older relatives are doing, even if they say they are OK. It gives important tips as to what to look for: their home, ability to drive, finances, and overall health.

As our loved ones get older, updates need to be made to assist them through the aging process. Being a proactive family member or friend, taking it upon yourself to help before a crisis occurs can mean a smoother sailing through those years both for them and for you. Being an advocate for their health and overall well-being can make a significant difference in their lives.

If you have concerns about a loved one’s health or living situation, there are people you can turn to for help. Health Advocates can assist in a myriad of ways by: assessing situations in your loved one’s home, creating a plan in case of an emergency, following-up routinely assuring that their safety and health concerns are a top priority, especially if you are far away and unable to physically be present to help.  You may identify a health advocate in their geographic area through the WASHAA Health Advocates Directory in WA State and through the NAHAC, PPAI and AdvoConnecton National Directories.

Take the time this holiday season to have a meaningful discussion with those you love about their needs with daily activities and their health. You will be glad you did!