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What is Older Family Mediation?
WHAT
IS OLDER FAMILY MEDIATION? |
In the fall, 2004 issue of Resolve, a magazine for Members of Family Mediation Canada, an article, by Judy McCann Beranger (p.9) points out that with the changing demographics in our society , “mediation is a valuable option for an ever growing range of issues facing older families in Canadian Society.” McCann points out that there is a need for family mediators to expand their field of expertise to include issues related to elder care. Elders are living longer. It is estimated that by the year 2031, 25% of the Canadian population will be over 65. And the fastest growing population in Canadian Society at the present time is elders over 85 years of age.
Examples of issues that can be addressed by mediation in the older family cover a wide range such as: decisions around living arrangements; sibling relationships around involvement in decision making with/for older parents; family relationships around new marriages /partners of older parents; sibling disputes and parent care giving; institutional care vs homecare decision making; siblings interaction/conflicts around caregiver support and caregiver burden.
Mediation with older families, parents and children, around these issues needs to involve understanding, collaboration and cooperation. When this is achieved the quality of life of all concerned will be improved. Decision making for parents using the mediation process will bring all the actors together so that they can move forward and assist one another through difficult times (McCann, Beranger 2004) both with their parents and with each other.
Underlying issues of older family mediation are some unique characteristic (McCann, Beranger 2004). These include: supporting the older person’s right to maintain their independence and where possible to have a voice in the decisions about their care and in the mediation process; creating a safe and trusting environment for all members of the family, parents and adult children alike throughout the mediation process in the hope that this trusting and cooperative environment will continue into subsequent stages of interaction in the older family.