A patient advocate's point of view: Generosity is good for heart health

Packard Health has a food pantry supported by Food Gatherers as well as by other donors. In a recent conversation with one of our patients, I was asked, “How long will the food pantry be stocked?” I was bewildered because the food pantry is always stocked, even though there are occasionally lean times. He continued, “You know people like to give in December, but then they lose that giving spirit in January. They seem to think that we only get hungry at the end of the year.”

More than 43,900 people receive emergency food each year through the network of emergency food pantries and meal sites served by Food Gatherers. There is a 138 percent increase of people in need of food since 2006. In Washtenaw County, more than one in three client households are experiencing very low food security or hunger.

Washtenaw County homelessness grew by 32 percent in calendar year 2008 and an additional 18 percent in calendar year 2009. The county has close to 5,000 homeless people.

Washtenaw County unemployment increased by 3.8 percent between 2007 and 2008, and the county ranked 261 among the 335 largest counties for the worst rate of job loss. It is estimated that for each 1 percent increase in unemployment there is a 0.60 percent loss in health insurance coverage. Loss of employment also leads to other deficits in housing, food and transportation all of which impact the health and wellness of our community.

Currently, there are more than 68,000 Washtenaw County residents who lack appropriate access to health care. This includes almost 47,000 uninsured individuals and almost 22,000 who have some form of limited insurance such as Medicaid. Washtenaw County Medicaid eligibility rose 31.2 percent from fiscal year 2004 to 2008, a dramatically more rapid rate of growth than the state of Michigan growth rate at 13.5 percent.

The folks experiencing these losses are our friends, neighbors and families. They are finding it increasingly more difficult to make important decisions when they are hungry or to find a way to pay for medication. They may skip meals or take less medication than prescribed to make it last longer. They will eat high-sodium and high-fat products to stop the hunger pangs, even though their doctor has advised against it.

A patient advocate plays an important role in many safety net organizations. At Packard Health, we receive referrals from our doctors and nurses for any patient or family needing support. Patient advocates help find resources, such as food, clothing, government sponsored health plans or prescription assistance programs. We enable patients to make productive decisions that they may struggle with due to the stress from being low-income, uninsured and/or unemployed, etc.

We try to assist these households in making better investments in their future by allowing them to explore opportunities they might otherwise miss. The goal of a community should be to protect families during times of hardship and help these families gain independence.

There are all types of nonprofit agencies working together to assist individuals in need such as Friends in Deed, SOS, Salvation Army and safety net providers such as Packard Health, Hope Medical Clinic, The Corner Health Center and Community Dental Clinic. Although safety nets are not sufficient to reduce poverty, they are very necessary for the poor and vulnerable in our community, until more sustainable solutions are found.

So how can you help and improve your heart health?

1. Become aware of the issues. Washtenaw County is a relatively wealthy county, however there are sharp contrasts between the more stable and affluent and the less visible poor and working poor populations.

2. Donate. Donations are not necessarily dollars, though most not for profits must rely on donations either directly or through the United Way. Donations of time through volunteering or in-kind donations, such as food or clothing, are critical to the functioning of local agencies.

3. Help someone get the services they need. Sometimes this is merely linking someone to a service or agency, and sometimes it is the moral support to seek help. The best access point for services in Washtenaw County is through the United Way 211 hotline. By simply dialing 2-1-1 from any phone in Washtenaw County (also available in other counties in Michigan), a person will be connected to a call center that can connect them to any type of human services in the area;from food assistance, to non-emergency medical care, to financial assistance and more.

4. Become a patient advocate. Currently there are no certification requirements for becoming a patient advocate. An advocate need not be a health care professional and can come from any walk of life. A concerned neighbor, a family member or friend can assist someone in need by listening, taking notes and keeping track of ideas in a sometimes confusing situation and helping the person communicate their needs, as well as understand, remember and cope with a complex or frightening process.

The people of Washtenaw County are generous and give graciously to many organizations that are stretched to the limit during these tough economic times, and there are many big-hearted volunteers who fill in the gaps for organizations who need additional staffing. We salute and thank you. And for those of you who are thinking about volunteering or giving, start small with the friends and people you know (it may surprise you) who may need an advocate.

It is still important to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and to get more exercise to improve heart health. However, become aware of the issues facing our community and consider ways of giving back. Your soul will soar, and your heart will be stronger for it, and so will our community.

This guest commentary, "A patient advocate's point of view," was written by Jennifer Green, one of the patient advocates on the Packard Health staff who works with Dr. Rion. Both she and Dr. Rion can be reached at info@packardhealth.org.