Family ... Family Care - Legal
Finding the Best Elder Mediator for Your Family - Part 1 (Read part 2 and part 3)
by Janet Mitchell, J.D., Director/Co-Founder of www.EldercareMediators.com, LLC, & Linda Ochsenfeld, J.D., Elder Mediator
When your family needs to make an important decision, hiring an elder mediator can be a crucial step in reaching an agreement. In order for your family to amicably and effectively make decisions together, find a well-trained and experienced elder mediator.
What Should I Look for in Evaluating the Mediator’s Experience & Skill?
Because your mediator will work closely with your family discussing matters that are both personal and emotional, you should choose an elder mediator who relates well to your family and who meets important qualifications. There is no national standard for the qualification of mediators, and each state has different mediation rules. Many states require that all mediators receive 40 hours of mediation skill training.
Due to specialization, some mediators work with families and others work with civil cases (personal injury, malpractice, securities, etc.) The best elder mediators are skilled at intervening in disputes involving family dynamics rather than in strictly “number crunching.” Elder mediation is not focused primarily on compromise. Rather, the elder mediator emphasizes the underlying beliefs that each family member holds dear, and helps the family integrate their concerns into an agreed-upon settlement.
There are three main models of mediation: facilitative, transformative, and directive. Family mediators use the first two models or a blend of the models, which are preferred for elder mediation, and civil mediators tend to use directive/shuttle mediation. Be sure to ask the mediator about the model of mediation used, specifically asking whether family members will be in the same room during most of the mediation, an important requirement for the development of a common understanding among family members.
Select a family mediator with extensive experience. One way to find an elder mediator’s qualifications is by checking the mediator’s detailed listing at www.EldercareMediators.com. Elder mediators are listed by state, with detailed information about training, number of cases, fees, and familiarity with geriatric issues. All have experience and a minimum of 40 hours of mediation training. Your state may have a list of all registered mediators , and different types of mediators are also listed at www.mediate.com and www.acrnet.org .
Another factor to consider is whether the mediator has specifically been trained in Elder Mediation, also noted in each www.EldercareMediators.com listing. The experts who provide Elder Mediation training are listed on the home page. Elder Mediation seminars include information on ethical issues relating to seniors and their families, as well as how to help the senior’s capacity to mediate by taking into account the appropriate time of day, location, and other considerations. Trainers help the mediators learn the best methods in order to provide the highest level of skill to families.
