Elder Issues"My daughter Peggy insists I move in with her", complains Gloria. "She just wants to take away my freedom and control my life". Peggy is fearful because her mother is more forgetful these days and does not always take her medications as prescribed. When Barry, Peggy’s brother hears about her plan, he says "I’ll take my sister to court before I will let her get control of mom and my inheritance".Life changes are inevitable as we age. Many families find adapting to these changes challenging. Mediation is a non-adversarial approach to problem solving. Elder mediation helps older adults, their families, and care providers communicate effectively, make difficult decisions and resolve conflict in a safe and confidential environment. Mediation provides an opportunity for elders and concerned family members to hear each others point of view and find common ground. Together they participate in creating thoughtful plans for the future, helping to resolve the stresses associated with changing realities and evolving relationships. This process gives seniors input into making decisions that impact their quality of life while respecting their dignity. The plans and agreements which form the end product of the mediation are developed by the participants, reflecting their unique situation. Parties usually report greater satisfaction and compliance with the outcome of mediation than with decisions imposed by a court. Finally, practice with conflict resolution techniques during mediation may allow the parties to resolve future conflicts without assistance Navigating Resolutions helps families create workable solutions to achieve smooth transitions for the elder and their family. Meetings are informal and are held in locations which meet the family's needs, including private homes, mediators' offices and senior living facilities. |