A Steady Dock in the Fog

Getting Out of the Fog
There’s an old dock that stretches into the water where the fog settles thick and quiet.

Some mornings, the shoreline disappears completely. The boathouse across the inlet fades into shadow. The air feels still, muted, gray. You know the structure is there. You know the path hasn’t changed. But you can’t see far enough to trust your next step.

Healthcare decisions often feel exactly like that.

One unexpected diagnosis.
One confusing discharge summary.
One provider who seems rushed or dismissive.

And suddenly, the shoreline disappears.

Families aren’t incapable. They’ve lost their bearings.

The information comes quickly. The stakes feel high. The language sounds foreign. And suddenly, they don’t trust their footing.

Some step back from the edge altogether.

Some move too quickly out of fear.
Some freeze — worried that one wrong step will send them into the water.

And in that hesitation, precious time can slip quietly past.

It’s not a weakness.

It’s uncertainty without a steady point of reference.

That’s the fog.

Advocacy isn’t about taking over someone’s journey. It’s about helping them orient themselves again.

It’s listening carefully enough to hear what’s not being said.
It’s translating medical language into real-life understanding.
It’s asking the next right question when emotions are running high.
It’s slowing down the moment long enough for people to see their options.

Most people don’t need someone to row the boat for them.

They need someone steady on the dock saying,
“You’re not lost. Let’s take this one step at a time.”

Fog doesn’t disappear because we wish it away. It begins to lift as information becomes understandable, as questions grow more focused, and as steady guidance helps the outlines deepen and the muted gray give way to vibrant color again.

Reflection
When things feel foggy, pause and ask:

• If I’m unclear, have I asked my provider or their office to explain this in simpler terms before making the next decision?
  If a medical concern keeps recurring, who is truly listening—and what would it take to find a provider who does?
  If I am navigating this alone as a solo ager, what protections and plans can I put in place now so I’m not lost later?
  What would steady guidance look like for me in this season?

Even in the fog, the dock remains.

Bio: Tracy Kersey, CCM, CRC, LPN, is an Independent Patient Advocate supporting older adults, caregivers, and solo agers in planning strategies for the next chapter of life. Click her name above to go to her GNA and contact her.