Advocating for your parent, but supporting you every step of the way
Kimberly Russell MN, BSN, RN, Healthcare Advocate
Meet Kimberly,
She knows how stressful and confusing it can be to care for an aging parent—especially when you're trying to balance work, family, and other responsibilities. With over 24 years of experience as a registered nurse, she now uses it to help adult children feel more at ease for example, by assisting with coordinating a parent's care, translating medical information into plain language, talking with doctors on behalf of a patient, and being a calm, steady presence in different situations.
Kimberly is passionate about making sure older adults receive safe, compassionate, and well-deserved care. She has worked inside the healthcare system closely with doctors, nurses, support staff, and care teams for many years so you don’t have to navigate the system alone.
She holds a Master of Nursing (MN) in Nursing Education from the University of Washington, Bothell (2020) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2014, from a different nursing program. In 2023, she successfully completed a patient advocacy training program. Kimberly is a skilled communicator, a strong advocate, and above all, a partner who keeps your loved one’s well-being at the center of everything she does.
Caring for an aging parent is hard-----getting support shouldn't be.
In Kimberly's Own Words:
How My Advocacy Journey Began
In 2022, in another state, my elderly sister nearly died after having surgery due to a critical communication gap between hospital staff and her. Thankfully, the rapid response team was able to revive her in the operating room. The gap in communication was not intentional. I totally understand the busyness of staff, but unfortunately it happened.
As the only healthcare professional in my family, I immediately stepped in to advocate for her—supporting her recovery from a distance, alongside her daughter (my hardworking adult niece). Together, we navigated a fragmented healthcare system and coordinated her long, six-month rehabilitation to help her regain strength and learn to walk again.
Today, she’s fully recovered from that incident—but that crisis changed everything for me. That frightening, life-changing experience inspired me to create Simply Explained Health Advocacy as a service and independent small practice devoted to supporting adult children who are doing their best to care for an aging parent. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, unsure of what questions to ask, or trying to manage care alone, I’m here to help you feel more supported, informed, and confident through it all.
Support That Feels Personal
You won't find identical solutions here. Once we decide to work together, I take the time to understand your parent's needs---and yours. Whether its helping you prepare for a specialist visit, follow up on an appointment or test results, to make sense of a diagnosis, or discover what help is needed. I'm here with calm, compassionate guidance just for you.
Help Grounded in Real Experience
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we turned to Kim for guidance to help protect our loved ones----including several elderly family members with chronic conditions. She took the lead in researching and in creating a clear, effective safety protocol. Her dedication helped keep our families safe, and only a few in our building became ill. Our leadership team later recognized Kim's efforts helped save lives. We're deeply grateful for her calm, professional support during such an uncertain time."
~ Walter
WaysYou Can Benefit
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Feel Less Alone in the Process
Sometimes, just having someone to check in with, makes the difference between burnout and feeling steady.
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Know What Questions to Ask
When a parent's health is on the line, sometimes its hard to know what to say or ask. I can help you focus on what really matters----and what to ask. Whether it's a doctor visit or a follow-up call.
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Make Informed Decisions With Less Stress
Hearing medical terms and making multiple decisions can feel overwhelming. I translate the complex words into plain language, so you feel more at ease. No need to Google things---- you get honest, understandable explanations.
Service Disclaimer: Simply Explained Health Advocacy does not provide financial, legal, medical advice, diagnoses, or medical treatments. No mental/behavioral health, social work, or drug rehabilitation services or recommendations. It does not provide prescriptions for medications nor transportation.