Elder Mediation Gains Popularity

Conflict Resolution Quarterly published a study in 2001 that found that nearly 40% of adult children caring for an elderly parent had experienced “serious conflict” with a sibling related to the care of the parent. In situations like this, elder mediation may be the solution. Elder mediators dig to the bottom of things, considering everyone’s viewpoint, and enable the family to sort out the important issues.

While elder mediation has been around for years, the practice has only recently gained recognition as a specialty area of mediation. Elder mediation still has no national credential program, so be careful in selecting a mediator. If you need an elder mediator, go to the National Eldercare Mediation Network website or Mediate.com to see profiles of elder mediators in every state.

See Joshua Tapper, When the Family Needs an Umpire, N.Y. Times, Oct. 28, 2010.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (WealthCounsel) for bringing this to my attention.