Why should I consider
mediation for my situation? Mediation is an effective and practical
alternative dispute resolution process for elders, their families,
caregivers and healthcare professionals
who are dealing with conflict arising from elder
issues. Mediation does not involve
the court system so it is often more affordable, expedient
and less adversarial. Conflict that is ignored can escalate
and impact quality of life, increase stress and
trauma, and irreparably harm
family
relationships. It can also contribute to the worsening physical
and emotional
health of the elderly family member. For elder issues ranging from
arguments between parents and adult children, to disputes
with
care facilities,
to difficult decisions about provision of end-of-life medical
care, mediation
provides
a respectful
and professional process that helps the elderly, their
families and other involved parties find common ground and universal
agreement. What conflicts are
appropiate for mediation? There are numerous types of conflict
that are appropriate for mediation. If you are experiencing or
dealing
with any of the following, please
consider mediation:
- Family disputes about the care of an elder
- Disputes among the elderly, e.g., between elderly spouses,
nursing home residents, an elder and caregiver
- Concerns or disputes with assisted living
facilities, nursing home staff or home health care providers
- Health care decisions, e.g., end-of-life medical care, home
health care, etc.
- Concerns about driving safety
- Pills / medication compliance issues
- Assigning power of attorney
- Family disputes over estates, wills
- Decisions about socialization and interaction for an elder
- Insurance coverage issues
- Concern about the quality or appropriateness of care
- Issues with healthcare professionals
How is mediation
different from litigation and arbitration? Mediation does not involve the court
system and, therefore, is often more economical and expeditious
than litigation. Additionally, mediation is a less adversarial
process and focuses on providing techniques that
empower individuals and families involved in the process to find
common ground and understanding.
Mediation
is also quite different from arbitration. In an arbitration,
the parties provide evidence to the arbitrator who makes a
final determination. In mediation, the mediator does
not act as an arbitrator. Rather, it is the goal of the
mediator to bring the parties together, listen to them, and
help them find their own solutions — a resolution that
all parties can live with so they can move forward with their
lives.
How long does mediation
take? The time it takes to mediate a conflict
depends on the complexity of the issue
at
hand
and the
number of parties involved. Some disputes are relatively easy
to resolve and may only take one or two sessions
to resolve while others can take several sessions to achieve compromise
and resolution.  Top
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