ADVOCATING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS VERY ILL For me, deep down shy, reserved, not wanting to upset people, as I am, of my most difficult roles is that of advocate, speaking up on behalf of my wife, doing what requires doing, to ensure her needs are met. Basically, you just have to do it, but this, as I discovered recently helping my wife in hospital, is not that easy. It can take incredible courage and extraordinary determination, on your part, to put yourself out there. To do it, to get what the person needs, whether that is a glass of water or an entire service, you are going to need good negotiating skills. You will need a solid grasp of the issues and facts, so that you are not outwitted by the other's, all too common, "yes/buts", leading you away from truth, to their relative view. You must be aware of how a relative view corrupts truth. You need to stand firm for the person’s and their reality especially where others are angry, limited, misinterpreting or compromisin...