Family Participation in Care of Elder
Sometimes the elder insists that he or she can take care of himself or herself, with the potential for dangerous or disastrous results. Alternatively, a primary child caregiver may be suffering burnout, and feel the contributions from the other adult children are lacking. Mediation can provide an excellent forum for siblings to discuss how they will share the responsibilities for care of their parents. Families can discuss the division of labor in mediation and explore possibilities in eldercare planning.
A skilled Family Mediator can meet with the elder and the concerned family members to discuss and come to agreements about how best to accommodate the elder’s need and desire for independence with concrete systems to provide for the elder’s safety and material needs.
Sometimes the elder will wish to maintain independence at a time when it is clear that the elder needs assistance. Elders are often frugal, but at times can be targets of unscrupulous caregivers, housekeepers and other service providers. Another problem is when self-interested children or children seek to gain a material advantage over other siblings during the elder’s life by undue influence in promoting lifetime gifts, or estate planning in favor of that person. Elders are often the victims of fraud and larceny, even by loved ones. Elder abuse law is a growing area of law. Massachusetts elder abuse cases are being reported daily.
Through Family Mediation, the elder and the people concerned about the elder can meet formulate a comprehensive eldercare plan incorporating Massachusetts elder law. With compassion and objectivity, the Family Mediator can help put into place solutions to protect the elder from financial harm and increase the elder’s physical and financial security.
If you are considering elder mediation services, and would like to speak with a MCFM mediator, search our database for elder planning mediators specializing in Family Wealth Succession Planning within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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