“As society ages, it’s become more common for adult children to provide assistance to their elderly parents,” explained the editor of a Chicago Tribune article. “But making sure that everyone, including the parent, agrees on a care plan can often be a challenge. A new type of go-between, known as an elder mediator, can guide squabbling siblings and elderly parents to solutions before conflicts tear a family apart.”
It’s not uncommon for tension to rise as parents or other aging loved ones show signs of needing help. It’s also not rare for family members to be at odds for how to deliver that assistance – or what type of assistance is needed, for that matter. The challenge then is to know when to look outside of the family for professional advice.
An elder mediator, therefore, can be a valuable asset, facilitating a much-needed environment for finding common ground. According to ElderMediationServices.com, elder mediation is a “voluntary, self-determined process, in which the neutral facilitator works with all the parties to assist them in arriving at their own decisions about how to resolve the issues. The mediator neither takes sides nor judges who is right or wrong, and does not give advice. Discussions are confidential and held in a private, safe setting. Any agreement reached must be acceptable to all participants.”
To learn more about elder mediators and their services, feel free to contact the professionals at Freedom Home Care. We would be happy to talk to you about the difficulties that you may be confronted with and how to find a resolution for the New Year and beyond.