Eldercare Mediation
Adult children commonly find themselves in conflict over the care of an
elderly parent. Aging is a painful and frightening reality for everyone, often raising significant physical, legal, financial, and emotional challenges.
It can also
intensify feelings of anger, resentment, sadness, guilt, and helplessness,
placing enormous strain on parent-child and sibling
relationships.
Brothers- and sisters-in-law and signficant others may succeed to some
extent in a facilitative role. However, their particular
attachment to one or
other family member and their lack of professional training typically limit
their effectiveness in moving beyond conflict to resolution.
Meanwhile, as formerly happy family gatherings such as a Thanksgiving
celebration become loaded with tension, innuendo,
and even outright
hostility, the possibility of consensus becomes
more and more elusive.
If you face the challenges of caring for your mom or dad, or if you yourself
worry about conflict among your children regarding your own care,
consider allowing a professional mediator to help your family create a comprehensive eldercare plan. With compassion and objectivity, our mediators can address any of the following issues in a safe and confidential environment:
- How to manage care-giving and associated expenses
- End-of-life decisions relating to medical care
- Estate planning and avoidance of probate contests
- Sharing hard-to-express sentiments before it’s too late
The mediation may take place in a variety of locations, including your mediator’s private office, an elder’s assisted living community, or the office of a senior service agency. (In instances of limited mobility, an elder’s home may provide an alternative venue for mediation.) Out-of-state parties may also participate via telephone or video conference.
Whereas elder mediation is never easy, the commitment to come together as a family and, guided by a skilled mediator, work through important decisions can ultimately be an extraordinarily uplifting experience that preserves both financial and familial well-being.