Once educated regarding Aging in Place, clients and their families often ask how they might help, beyond just protecting themselves and their families.  Aging in Place is such an important objective, but implementing  a plan is affected by a myriad of external systems and circumstances that may frustrate a simple desire to control your own decision-making.  Our health care, social, legal, and financial systems comprise the world in which we must plan and act for a more certain outcome.  So, you might consider becoming an advocate for reforms.  Just contributing to a social organization, such as the National Association to Stop Guardianship Abuse can help.    You may also want to make your voice heard, but often, individuals are unaware of how to advocate. The following tips can help when contacting legislators and government officials, no matter the topic. Remember, even one phone call, letter, or in-person meeting can have an impact!
First, you must pick and issue, and develop your message.  Advocacy groups can assist you by, for example, providing short issue or position papers.  For big, national issues, these papers and messages can be effective, but you are more likely to get attention of staff or aids if your issue is personal, and you have specific concerns.  So, use the advocacy groups papers and messages to personalize yours!
Accept the following guidance on being an effective advocate:

Tips for phone calls:

• Identify yourself: give your name and city and explain that you are a constituent with a concern.
• Be flexible: ask to speak to the elected official directly, but if that isn’t possible, speak to his/her aide. Aides do a lot of research for legislators and often recommend what elected or appointed officials should do.  More people find solutions when they have the attention and support of a concerned aid, than those who await the attention and support of an elected or appointed official.
• Identify the issue:  have notes handy with the specific information, such as a bill number or title and any statistics you want to convey. State your position clearly and directly.
• Be polite but firm: do not threaten with the power of your vote. If the elected official disagrees with you, don’t hesitate to politely push back.
• Ask for information: elected officials have valuable information that they are more than willing to share. Ask when action is expected on your issue. Ask about the opposition and what impact they are having.
• Ask for support:  ask if the elected official already has a position on your issue and how he/she intends to vote or resolve the issue.
• Ask friends to make phone calls: one call is powerful, but five are even more so.  One person calling repeatedly is, as you might expect, easily dismissed as derangement.  Be polite, and judicious with your time!

 Tips for writing letters:

• Be Brief: reduce your message  to one page or less, and attach any detailed information, charts, statistics, references, or the like. on separate sheets.
• Be Direct: tell the elected official what action you want him/her to take, such as introduce legislation, cosponsor a bill, vote for (or against) a bill in committee, or on the floor. Ask him/her to respond to your letter. Be sure to include your address and phone number.
• Be Civil: don’t threaten, insult, wisecrack or name call.
• Don’t Overdo It: don’t write too often. Make your letters timely so your legislator can take positive action to help.
• Personalize: use your own words. You don’t need to type the letter – handwritten letters are very effective if you have legible handwriting. Avoid form letters and postcards.
• Focus on One Issue: your letter will have the most impact if you speak out on one issue at a time.
• Have the Facts: the more facts you know, the better. Refer to legislation by title or number. Cite experts to back up your arguments.
• Compliment: elected officials are human and like to be recognized and thanked for their work. Always write a thank you note if the elected official does what you ask.

Tips for Attending Townhalls and Meetings:

Do:

• Be a good listener and hear out what the official has to say.
• Be concise and clear about your interests.
• Offer to serve as a resource.
• Respect the right of the official to disagree with you and vote against your issue but try to establish a common interest
• Provide written materials – one-page handouts are effective.
• Follow up on any commitments made.
• Thank the official for his/her time and interest in your issue.

Don’t:

• Go over the allotted time unless it’s obvious the official wants to spend more time with you.
• Criticize people on a personal level – talk about the issue.
• Ask for more than one meeting with the same official on the same issue unless you have something different to say.
• Tell the official what he/she “should” do. Put your message in the form of a request and explain how his/her action will affect constituents.
• Burn your bridges. Show no anger or resentment toward officials who vote or act against you. You may need their support on another issue! Say “maybe you can help me next time‟ and make sure the next time happens!