Mediation is a process in which people meet in a private, confidential setting to work out a solution to their problem with the help of a neutral person, the mediator.  The mediator does not decide who is right or wrong and does not force the disputing parties to reach agreement or to accept particular terms in an agreement.  Instead, the mediator listens to the parties explain the problem and their concerns as they see them and present their ideas on how the matter might be resolved.  The mediator helps the parties develop and agree upon a workable solution.

Mediation can be thought of as a way of sharing decision making responsibilities among family members.  It may take the form of a family meeting to share information on a family member’s care, develop options, and reach consensus on difficult decisions.  The mediation process may also be helpful in resolving a dispute this is impacting family members, caregivers, and the care recipient.

Dealing with decisions about the personal or financial needs of a family member can be complicated and stressful when options appear limited. Some family members may feel overwhelmed by the care needs of their loved one, particularly when juggling those needs with the needs of children, other family members, or career demands.  Mediation gives families a chance to talk together about problems and with the guidance from a trained mediator, work together to find solutions acceptable to everyone involved.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 26th, 2010 at 12:47 pm and is filed under Conflict Resolution Tips, Elder Mediation, Mediation Info, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.