DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS WITH PARENTS

At some point, most people will have to deal with aging parents and matters, such as living arrangements, health care, finances, driving, end-of-life decisions, and all the other issues typically addressed.

Those discussions can be difficult and mediation can help.

What today is called Elder Mediation involves family members and deals with concerns related to the well-being of the older person. The process can be initiated by any individual associated with the family, often at the suggestion of an attorney, caregiver, physician or hospital staff. The mediators will typically be family ones with training in aging with appropriate listening and language skills.

The mediator will ask the parties to identify the topics they wish to discuss. The mediator will then guide the conversation to reach agreements that promote the wishes, well-being, and quality of life of the senior, while supporting the family through these emotional times.

If mediation is not utilized, subjects may remain unresolved and result in significant conflicts in the future, destroying relationships. The best evidence that Elder Mediation works is the anecdotal evidence that all family members typically report the mediation gave them a greater peace of mind and improved family dynamics.

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Fred Jandt is the author of “How to Survive a Mediation,” available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.