Elder Mediation

Elder care and family mediation are all too often ignored as ways to settle disputes that can span generations, as well as families. These issues can involve emotions that are hard to speak about or even accept as reality. We attempt to alleviate those concerns by involving all interested parties, either face to face or using conferencing and computers to discuss the issues. In mediation family members can speak truthfully while retaining the dignity of the family and the respect of the other family members.

Issues that can arise include the type of facility that is best for an elderly person and how the finances of same will be handled. Living Wills and health care proxy’s are discussed and different asset arrangements are considered. The goal is not to favor one member of a family over the other, but rather to allow family members, sometimes estranged by distance and old disputes to discuss their family and develop a protocol for handling future matters. Mediation is an open forum where decades old grudges can be smoothed over and issues that can not be discussed directly can be worked out and resolved.

Photo Credit: Grandma and Grandpa Desert Flowers by davidmesaaz, on Flickr