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"Advocacy is for the people": research into the impact of independent advocacy on the lives of older people
- Author:
- BOCIOAGA Andreea
- Publisher:
- Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- ii, 35
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This report aims to investigate the impact of independent advocacy on the lives of older advocacy partners. The study is based on qualitative data and it explores people’s perspectives of advocacy. 13 interviews were conducted at 7 different advocacy organisations across Scotland. The findings, which draw on interviews with the advocacy partners and previous literature, suggest that: advocacy can help older people maintain their independence – the support participants had accessed helped them to regain control over their own lives and situations, either by finding new accommodation, making complaints or dealing with the services around them; advocacy can help older people access relevant information and address any power imbalance - participants credited advocacy with helping them access the information they needed in order to make informed choices, challenge the status quo and achieve their goals; advocacy helps safeguard the rights of older people; for those older people suffering from a (perceived or actual) physical or cognitive impairment advocacy can offer vital support when dealing with official matters - some of the participants reported on how their advocate helped them make sense of official documents and ensured that their views were heard when raising an issue with statutory or non-statutory agencies or when making a complaint; advocacy makes the advocacy partners feel valued and listened to, improved their confidence and contributed to reduced stress when dealing with difficult issues. (Edited publisher abstract)