Working With Siblings to Care for Elderly Parents? Try an Elder Mediator!
If you’re working with siblings to care for elderly parents, learn why it’s wise to consult with an elder mediator.
In working with siblings to care for elderly parents, even the closest brothers and sisters may find themselves in opposition. Stress and emotions are, without a doubt, running high. Couple that with your past family history and dynamics, which tend to resurface during difficult times, and it’s not hard to see how complicated this phase in life can be for all of you.
The most common areas of controversy among siblings include financial decisions, differing viewpoints on medical treatments or living arrangements, and an unfair division of duties related to caregiving, just to mention a few.
Oftentimes, no matter how hard you try, you and your brothers and sisters are just unable to come to an understanding on precisely how to best provide care for your parents. An impasse like this is quite common, but there’s a remedy many families are not aware of that may be extremely beneficial: bringing in an elder mediator.
What Is an Elder Mediator?
A professional experienced in conflict resolution, an elder mediator brings an unbiased, third-party voice to family conversations. They can help defuse heightened feelings and outbursts and guide the dialogue in a way that creates an outcome that everyone can accept.
Elder mediator Susanne Terry explains, “Most of the time siblings want what’s best for the parents. They just look at it in a different way. Our goal is to help them figure out what their common interests are, so they can work together to find solutions.”
Unlike family therapy, which helps families sort out problems slowly and gradually over a lengthy period of time, elder mediation is a targeted, compacted method that usually results in an agreeable result in only a few sessions.
Elder mediators allow siblings the opportunity to both offer input and listen respectfully to each other. The goal is not only to look for the very best outcome for the senior parents, but to help siblings preserve healthy relationships with one another in the process.
When researching elder mediation choices, there are several questions you should ask:
- What are your fees?
- Are you a member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators (APFM) or other professional associations?
- What is your education, training, and background?
- What amount of experience do you have in our particular situation?
To find an elder mediator in your area, visit APFM’s mediator directory. Once you and your brothers and sisters settle on the best path forward in taking care of your aging parents, give San Diego Home Caregivers, the top home care company in San Diego, Carlsbad, La Mesa, and throughout San Diego County, a call. We will be glad to schedule a no-cost in-home assessment to discuss how we can help ensure all their care needs are met. You can reach us any time at (619) 487-9000.
