Family Mediation Can Be Helpful During Elder Care

Caring for elderly relatives can be extremely stressful whether the children or grandchildren take on the caregiving responsibility or hire a professional caregiver. So many things must be decided, including where the elder is to live, who will be responsible for the day-to-day care, who will finance the care and so on. For those blessed with a large family, making these decisions can be a lengthy, arduous process. This is where family mediation can help.

 

What Is Mediation?

Mediation involved the employment of a professional who has the requisite credentials, background and experience to help families communicate and negotiate effectively, consider options and alternatives they may not otherwise be aware of, and provide relevant legal and financial information. . Whatever the situation, a professional mediator relieves family stress by serving as a neutral party while each person makes his or her wishes known.

 

How Does the Process Work?

A mediator’s job is to collect facts, figures and opinions from people who have an interest in a certain event, for example, establishing a care plan for an elderly relative. First, a time and place for family mediation is set. Next, each person has a chance to voice his or her views, concerns and ideas, either to the entire group or one-on-one with the mediator. The mediator takes extensive notes during this process and is then able to help the family members communicate and negotiate. Eventually, an agreement can be reached and set out on paper.

 

What Kinds of Decisions Can a Mediator Help Families Make?

Elder care is sometimes very complicated, depending on the needs of the elderly one, and adult children often disagree about how their parents should be cared for. Family mediation can help to resolve issues like whether in-home care or institutional care would be best, what types of respite care will be scheduled for the primary caregiver and when the care plan should be reassessed. By taking into consideration the viewpoints and concerns of everyone involved, the mediator can map out the options, enabling family members to come to an agreement.

If your family is facing the difficult decision of how to care for an elderly relative and needs help coming to an agreement, consider hiring a professional mediator. Having this potentially tense discussion on neutral ground with an unbiased mediator can help everyone get past the emotional aspect and settle on the important details. Family mediation can continue to be helpful after the initial care arrangements are made, as circumstances change and details need to be reevaluated. Do not allow this tough situation to overwhelm you when a mediator can offer so much help.