Having worked with seniors and their families since 2004, Savela turned her passion into a full-time business in 2018. Savela uses her experience and unique skill set to assist those preparing for and managing Medicare benefits and costs, to support individuals as they begin experiencing challenges with managing their everyday lives and offers guidance to family caregivers who may or may not live in the area.

Patient Advocates assess various resources: time, family, finances, support systems, and personal desires, to develop care plan options. They then assist in implementing the chosen plan so individuals can live their lives as close to their desires as possible. Top concerns are living safely yet as independent as possible. “As baby-boomers continue to enter into the elderly community the need for Patient Advocates and Guardians will grow.

‘Elder Orphans’ are a group of people who may or may not be married and have no adult children,” explains Savela. “The other growing population is the caregivers; some are boomers, and some are younger sometimes called the “sandwich generation.” They are caring for their family (children or grandchildren) and an older loved one and sometimes working as well. Patient Advocates can help.”