Family ... Family Care - Legal
Finding the Best Elder Mediator for Your Family - Part 2 (Read part 1 and part 3)
by Janet Mitchell, J.D., Director/Co-Founder of www.EldercareMediators.com, LLC, & Linda Ochsenfeld, J.D., Elder Mediator
How Do I Get a Sense of Whether the Mediator is the Right “Fit” for My Family?
In order for the elder mediator to be the most effective, the mediator typically contacts each family member before mediation, explaining the process and working toward an agreement about who is to be present at mediation. This is an important time to assess the mediator’s skill and the “fit” of the mediator to your family’s needs.
In talking with the mediator, see if he or she is willing to accommodate the needs of all family members in scheduling and conducting the mediation. If mediation hours are limited to weekdays between 9 and 5 at the mediator’s office, family members may be inconvenienced.
See if the mediator has experience with issues of concern to older adults, such as knowing when to refer you to legal counsel for issues relating to Medicare, powers of attorney, guardianship, and property issues.
Also find out if the mediator is knowledgeable about community resources, such as housing options, transportation, geriatric assessment, medical, and other elder care resources.
Get a sense about whether the mediator will be able to work with your family dynamics, and whether the mediator will let family members make decisions without imposing his or her views on what you should do.
Most important, throughout the process, check if the mediator is being neutral, not favoring any "side", but rather, making sure everyone's concerns are heard and valued.
