How Mediation in Minnesota is Effective at Creating Elder Care Solutions

May 27, 2013  |  Elizabeth A. Schading

Caring for aging or dependent parents can be a source of contention among adult children. If you and your siblings are fighting constantly over how to care for an elderly father or mother then you might be interested to know just how effective mediation in Minnesota can be at creating elder care solutions.
There are many common issues that can arise when a parent’s health and independence start to fail. There might be questions about housing and living arrangements, or having a live-in caregiver vs. moving to an assisted living facility.
Your elderly parent may not want to give up his or her car keys, while you and your siblings know it’s the right thing to do, for the parent’s safety and the safety of others. You may want your parent to get medical treatment that he or she is refusing for some reason.
There might be arguments about inheritances, whether or not to sell the house, and how the caregiver-sibling is managing the money. If your elderly parent is on life support there may even be arguments about whether or not the parent should be kept alive.
For the most part, everyone involved only wants what’s best for the aging parent. However, not everybody agrees on how to get to what’s best.
Indeed, elder care issues can bring up older issues. Old rivalries flare. Arguments that have been brewing for 20 years enter the picture and complicate matters.
That’s where a qualified elder care mediator can come in. While some families will make the mistake of making court their first stop, people who choose elder care mediation will often find that they can create a Win-Win solution while spending less money than litigation requires.
Of course, it’s not just about the money. Mediation can help you preserve your relationship with your elderly parents and your siblings. Litigation can tear those same relationships apart.
Seeking a qualified mediator to handle your elder care issues does not have to be a struggle. All of the mediators at BGS are also lawyers and members of our legal team.
Mediation is a Confidential Process
What is said and offered in mediation remains confidential unless the parties reach agreement and a signed agreement results. The court will be told that mediation was conducted, but unless agreement was reached, all discussions, offers and negotiations remain confidential and inadmissible in court.
Elizabeth Schading is an experienced family lawyer and a Minnesota Statewide ADR Rule 114 Neutral Mediator. She is also trained in elder mediation. Call us today to find out if our mediation team in Minnesota is right for you and your family.