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Many age related illnesses may progress slowly and then suddenly prevent a senior from maintaining their daily lifestyle.  Senior caregiving needs often sneak up on families because diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s progress at different speeds for each person.  A hip replacement or stroke may also happen suddenly and then require rehabilitation and caregiving services. Planning for senior care is essential and is a proactive measure that can help to avoid disputes amongst families over who will be responsible for services and the financial obligations.  These issues, left unaddressed can tear apart and destroy families and leave the seniors without the care and attention they need and deserve.

Elder care Mediation helps families to resolve elder care issues such as independence, safety, comfort and well-being.  It teaches families how to communicate respectfully and effectively, and how to listen to issues that have often been swept under the carpet for years and can now safely emerge for rational discussion.

Elder care Mediation can arise because of an acute need for conflict resolution or proactive planning and preparation that focuses on the needs of the elderly and their families.  Using the facilitative skills of a professional Mediator, families have the opportunity to clarify the concerns that are the most important to them, share resources, consider alternatives, and find effective, satisfying and long lasting solutions.  The Mediator will facilitate the resolution of family disputes or assist in the proactive planning on matters such as; Who should have power of attorney over the seniors, where will they live, who will care for them, can guardianship be avoided and if not, who will be the guardian, should Mom/Dad still be driving, and who will pay for their care?

All stakeholders meet together in session where the issues are defined and discussed. The Mediator will assist family members in determining who needs to participate in the sessions.  At the end of each session, there will be an understanding of the additional information that is needed before final plans and agreements can be reached.  The mediator will urge the family to have the seniors participate to the extent possible.

In utilizing a facilitative approach, such as mediation offers, the family members know more about their concerns than a judge or even their attorneys, and can work together to reach agreements that are practical, fair and in the best interest of loved ones.

The many benefits of “Facilitative Elder care Mediation”:

  • A high success rate
  • Encourages the elderly to be involved to the extent possible
  • Gives power to the elderly who may feel that decisions are beyond their control
  • Helps families to heal
  • Helps families focus on future needs
  • Effective alternative to litigation

Elder care Mediators are focused on serving the elders and the families through offering a process that creates a safe space for an often difficult dialogue.

 

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