Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Student testimonies:

Hi Barbara, 

I want to thank you again for the excellent Elder Care training you
provided. I thought the program was extremely well organized and very worthwhile.

Your follow-up on the items has also been exceptional.

Best regards,
Walter W. (Wally) Pike
San Antonio, TX
Mediator

Hello Barbara,

I've been reflecting on the 20 hours of elder care mediation training last week.  You gave us an incredible amount of
valuable information, and I thank you.  I found day three to be most meaningful.  As I watched the Fishbowl and participated in the mediation exercise I thought how often I'd been in the same circumstances and felt right at home. 

I can do this Barbara!  I'm really excited about being an Elder

Care Mediator.  Thank you for the your teaching and sharing
your experiences and knowledge.

Bev Heasley
Tuscan, Arizona
Mediator

Early Bird Special Available.

Advanced Family Mediation
30 hours Course


Next course starts
October 2010
in Houston, TX.


This is a good course for Parenting Coordinators, too.

Elder Care Mediation Training - Next class will be in Austin in October!
For more information, contact us.

The distinguished faculty for the Manousso Mediation-SMU Elder Mediation training included:

Barbara Manousso, Ph.D. (ABD), MPH, NCG, TCG
Texas Credentialed Distinguished Mediator

Tom Hartsell, Esq
Texas Credentialed Distinguished Mediator

Kay Paggi, LPC
Geriatric Care Manager

Angela F. Thomas, MSN, RN, CMC
Caring With Grace, LLC
 

Professor and Geriatric Nurse

Julie Wilson, LMSW
Alzheimer Association of Greater Dallas

Social Workers: 18 total hours of CEUs which includes 3 hours of ethics
Texas Guardians:  20 hours approved CEU with 3 hours of ethics
Texas State Bar MCLE for Attorneys:  20 hours approved with 3 hours of ethics.
LPC:  20 hours with 3 hours of ethics.

Click here for more info on the advanced family mediation course!

2010 Basic Mediation Course
40 hours
June 28, 29, 30 and July 1
In Houston, Texas.

Advanced Family Mediation
30 hours
July 19, 20, 21, 2010
In Houston, Texas.

This elder care mediation course will help social workers, geriatric workers, psychologists, attorneys, and nursing home administrators learn how to deal with conflicts that affect the lives of seniors and their families.  This growing field has developed a strong national and international network. Be part!
                                                                                                                   
Continuing education credits available: 
Social Workers: 18 hours class participation, 3 hours of Ethics.
Texas Certified Guardianship: 20 credits, including 3 hours of Ethics.
Texas Bar CLE approved for attorneys:  20 hours with 3 in Ethics.
LPC:  20 hours of class participation with 3 hours of Ethics.
 

Registration rate and discounts are listed in the drop down menu below.

Registration Options for Elder Mediation Training Registration fee $595.00 Early Bird Discount $550.00 Perk Special $500.00 College Student Special $450.00 Current SMU Student Special $400.00 Or scroll down, browse the course outline, and then > Register below!

• National Public Radio (NPR) April 2009 show on benefits of elder care mediation. 
  Click here and listen to the interview and read a transcript.
   

• February 2009 Texas Paralegal Journal article by Barbara Manousso.
   

• Frequently asked questions on elder care mediation.
   

• Local and national elder care resources and affiliations.

The information below has been submitted to Wikipedia by this author.

What is Elder Care and Adult Mediation?
Mediation is a structured, although informal process where the mediator, a neutral, trained professional, helps the parties involved identify and discuss issues of mutual concern.  The mediation process is confidential and voluntary.  Mediation is also faster, efficient, and more cost-effective than litigation, or no action at all. When necessary, the parties might request and benefit from the professional services of accountants, financial planners, geriatric social workers and managers, religious leaders, and lawyers as resources at the mediation or before the session as a reference.  Elder Care Mediation is a team effort to help the families, the senior, and parties make good decisions for today and tomorrow. Other professional advisors often include care givers, such as nursing home administrators, physicians, and nurses, in addition to the elder and other interested family members and friends.

Why choose mediation?
Family dynamics are complicated.  These family dynamics have taken years to evolve, but now are maybe strained by new roles or tested by the urgent needs of an elder, usually a parent.  Decisions for seniors often need timely resolution.   Family disputes, personality differences, partners of family members, and nuances of growing families all add to the mix of barriers that might interfere with quality communication to make good decisions.  The best intentions of all involved might become clouded with guilt, misinformation, and fear of new roles and needs.  Mediation enables proactive families to have good discussions and look at emerging opportunities to resolve conflict that potentially could tear them apart financially and emotionally.  In mediated family meetings, everyone has the opportunity to privately explore the needs and feelings of all involved and to deal rationally with the problems and issues under discussion.  A well-trained elder and adult care mediator can also assist families with understanding community resources and how to access other professional advisors.

When medical or nursing care falls short of expectations, mediation among the patient, family, and long-term care administrators can clarify roles and expectations in a timely manner, outside of a courtroom.  In most cases, legal representation is not needed.  The family can put their money and energy into quality decisions and not  litigation.

Mediation gives families and seniors the vehicle to make their own best decisions in a timely, personal, private, and constructive process.

How to begin:  Nationally there is now a network of mediators specializing in elder and adult mediation.  Since families might live and work in different parts of the country, even world, families can be brought together by phone, video cam, and by assistance of elder care mediators near you.  Manousso Mediation has trained many of these mediators around the country, so we know the breath and scope of their ability and practice skills.

For more information on how to start the mediation process, contact Barbara Manousso.  To become part of the mediator network, read on.

Introduction to Elder and Adult Mediation Training

Manousso Mediation offers a two day, 20 hours, course on elder and adult mediation training.  This course is designed for experienced mediators and interested professionals, such as lawyers, guardians, social workers, certified public accountants, trustees, nurses, hospice workers, geriatric care managers, and nursing home administrators.  The interactive, skills-based training includes:

• defining elder mediation
  
   

• ways in which elder mediation differs from other mediation skills
  
   

• the importance of intake and ways to make it efficient
  
   

• ageism and bias
  
   

• the aging process and its possible impact on mediation
  
   

• capacity issues
  
   

• accommodating cognitive impairment or other challenges
  
   

• use of support persons
  
   

• family dynamics
  
   

• recognizing and responding to elder abuse
  
   

• ethical considerations including self-determination, necessary participants, ensuring the older person’s voice is heard, role of advocates, and mediator competence
   

• legislative updates and Texas Statutes
  
   

• legal and financial issues including guardianship, health care, end-of-life issues, and financial planning.

All participants receive training materials, as well as meals and snacks, included in application fee.

The class meets from 8 AM until 6:30 PM. Doors open at 7:45 AM.  We break for lunch at noon for thirty minutes and we provide lunch.   In the morning, we provide a continental, working breakfast.   There are two 15 breaks.   During the morning and afternoon breaks, we provide coffee, water, and snacks. Click here for the Elder Course outline.  Checks may also be sent to: Manousso Mediation 21 Briar Hollow Lane, Suite 508 Houston, TX 77027 (713) 840-0828 Brochure for conference.   MCLE State Bar of Texas:  20 hours approved with 3 hours of ethics. Social Workers: 18 total hours of CEUs which includes 3 hours of ethics Texas Guardians:  20 hours approved CEU with 3 hours of ethics LPC: 20 hours with 3 hours of ethics!

Elder and Adult Mediation Training-20 hours course Registration Options for Elder Mediation Training Registration fee $595.00 Early Bird Discount $550.00 Perk Special $500.00 College Student Special $450.00 Current SMU Student Special $400.00 The next elder program will be in Dallas area on June 4th and 5th 2010. Suggested hotels in Plano. SMU Dispute Resolution Program 5228 Tennyson Parkway Suite 118 Plano, Texas  75024  Houston Hotels, located in Uptown/Galleria!                          Hampton Inn - (713)871-9911                               La Quinta - (713)355-3440                                  Drury Inn -(713)963-0700.