Caregiver Members

Caregivers often see changes, problems, and daily needs that others
may not see.

Approved Caregiver Members can communicate with Seniors in Distress and participate in a Senior Member's advocacy without a separate membership charge.

Who Can Participate

Caregiver Members must be 18 years of age or older.

A caregiver may be a family caregiver, friend, privately hired caregiver, home care worker, or another person regularly involved in helping the Senior Member.

Participation must be approved when authorization is required.

What Caregiver Members Can Do

When authorized, Caregiver Members may:

• Share observations with the Advocate

• Report changes in the senior's needs

• Raise care or safety concerns

• Provide information about appointments or services

• Alert the Advocate when something is missed or delayed

• Help with agreed follow-up

• Participate in appropriate discussions

• Receive information they are authorized to receive

Caregiving Does Not Automatically Create Authority

Providing care does not automatically give a Caregiver Member the right
to make medical, financial, legal, personal, or membership decisions
for the Senior Member.

Legal authority or authorization may be required before we accept certain instructions or share private information.

Respecting the Senior

Caregiver participation should support—not replace—the senior's voice.

Caregiver Members may not use their access to pressure, intimidate, control, exploit, isolate, or improperly influence a Senior Member.

If an Advocate becomes concerned about the Senior Member's safety
or treatment, Seniors in Distress may take appropriate steps consistent
with our advocacy role and applicable law.

Caregiver Responsibilities

Caregiver Members agree to:

• Provide information honestly

• Report important changes when appropriate

• Respect the Senior Member's choices and privacy

• Communicate appropriately with Advocates

• Follow agreed boundaries for communication and information sharing

• Follow our Membership Code of Conduct

Ending Caregiver Participation

A Caregiver Member may stop participating.

The Senior Member may withdraw authorization when legally permitted.

Seniors in Distress may also limit or end a Caregiver Member's participation when necessary to protect the Senior Member, privacy, safety, or the advocacy process.

Removing a Caregiver Member does not automatically end the Senior Member's membership.

Other Policies

Caregiver Members are also subject to our Terms of Membership, Membership Code of Conduct, and Privacy Policy.

Approved Caregiver Members may participate in a Senior Member's advocacy without a separate membership charge.

Changes to This Policy

Seniors in Distress reserves the right to change, modify, update, replace,
or discontinue this policy as our services, operations, or legal requirements change.

Material changes will be communicated when required or appropriate.
The current version posted on our website, together with its Last Updated
date, will apply from its stated effective date.