Jacob is 65 years old.  After breaking his hip a few years ago his body is now growning weaker making him much more fragile than he used to be.  However Jacob cannot seem to come to terms with this fact.  Jacob's doctor advises him not to drive but he continues and this results in a crash at an intersection.

Jacob isn't taking his medication regularly, he neglects his personal care, and his bills are not always being paid on time.  Every caretaker his children hire for him quits because Jacob behaves in a way that makes it difficult for them to carry out their job. He strongly believes he is capable of taking care of himself, but most of his family disagrees. The eldest son wants Jacob to move into assisted living, while the eldest daughter wants her father to move in with her. The youngest daughter believes that Jacob is capable of taking care of himself.  The family dynamics is significantly shifting and is creating tension among the siblings.

Jacob's children seek assistance from the Elder Mediation Service.  Mediators meet with Jacob and his children. Everyone is given the opportunity to share their concerns and to also share their perspective on the situation.  Jacob's children begin to understand the difficulties he faces in accepting his condition.  They also learn to respectfully and successfully communicate with him about issues pertaining to his personal care, his finances, his driving ability, and hiring assistance for him.  After listening to his children, Jacob understands their concerns and agrees to accept their assistance in managing his care.

"There is nothing harder than to realize that you are no longer in charge of your own life.  Through this entire process, I was able to overcome my denial and allow others to help me.   It is not so bad.  In fact sometimes, I feel like a king with all this extra help!"

What We Do

The Elder Mediation Service offers conflict resolution services for older adults 55+ and their families/caregivers by providing a safe space for issues to be addressed. Typical issues may include: health care planning, family conflicts, power of attorney decisions, elder abuse, end-of-life decisions, etc. The goal of the process is to allow participants to share their perspective and to listen to each other regarding the sensitive issues and decisions that affect the lives of older adults. Two mediators act as neutral third parties to assist the participants in the mediation process.

Why Choose Elder Mediation Service