Family Mediation
Are you in a dispute or in serious conflict with a family member? We can help.
Mediation aims at reducing the emotional tension that surrounds family disputes. A trained mediator modulates your discussion so that all involved
can exchange perspectives, share information, work in cooperation, and
find common grounds. The parties can negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement, and learn techniques for resolving future differences.
Family conflicts surrounding eldercare and healthcare decision-making
are particularly complex and multidimensional. Animosity and conflicts are
expressed on many levels and in different ways, often making it
difficult for family members involved to resolve the conflict on their
own.
Caring for a Frail Elder Parent
Adult children often disagree on how to care for their elderly parent. Issues producing family conflict include physical care of the frail elder, insufficient help from other siblings, financial burden, and relationship problems with the elderly parent. Another source of significant family conflict can be medical treatment decisions: Who should make them? What is the right decision? Also at issue is the dignity of, and quality of life for, the frail elder. Lifelong sibling rivalry and family animosity often re-surface due to these new challenges.
Difficult Healthcare Decisions
Health care dicision-making itself is a difficult process.
Family members may be at odds with one another because each sees the
situation differently and values different things. For example, some
believes all treatments should be tried to prolong life, others feel
that quality of life and quality time with family are more valuable.
Sometimes the patient feels at odds with his or her family over these
issues.
How Mediation Can Help?
The preferred outcomes of eldercare mediation are the preservation of the elderly parent's dignity and family members' relationships, the adoption of an eldercare strategy that works for all involved, and a fair agreement for sharing responsibility.
Health care decisions are complex decisions. Among other things, they involve the medical indications for certain treatments and the doctors' recommendations, the patient's preferences, quality of life issues, and contextual features, such as living environment, the family's caregiving capabilities.
In mediation, the
mediator helps the family members work through
their issues and conflicts, so that they can evaluate the pros and
cons, and the risks and benefits of doctor-recommended medical
treatments. The mediator may help the patient and family members
communicate more effectively with one another, so that they can discuss
treatment options and prognosis with their health care
practitioners.
What Points Can Be Decided in Mediation?
- Quality of life for both the elderly parent and caregivers
- Relationship issues: elder parent and children, siblings, other relatives
- Living arrangement
- Car keys, driving and transportation
- Caregiving (sharing of responsibilities, respite, future plans)
- Financial decisions
- Communication skills
- Powers of attorney and guardianship issues
- Health care decisions
- Emergency decisions
- Nursing home care
- Planning for end-of-life decisions (preference for no resuscitation or life prolongation, advanced directives, appointment of health care representatives, funeral planning)
How Long Does It Take And What Is The Cost?
Eldercare or healthcare decision mediation is a direct, focused and short-term process. It may take one or more sessions, depending on the complexity of the issues, and the number and availability of family members involved. Each session is about two to three hours in length. If more than one session is needed, they are scheduled one or two weeks apart or as preferred by the family.
At the conclusion of the mediation, a Memorandum of Understanding is prepared by the mediator listing the terms agreed to by all parties.
Hourly fees are charged for mediation time and the preparation of the Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact our office for our fee structure.
What Are The Benefits Of Family Mediation?
While the goal of mediation is to produce agreement, mediation also
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preserves the dignity and quality of life of the elderly parent.
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promotes fair division of responsibilities.
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plans for the future.
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improves family communication and cooperation.
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preserves family relationships.
Call us for more information.
845-338-9638
