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Frequently Asked Questions
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 process is confidential and voluntary. When
necessary, the parties might request the professional services of accountants,
financial planners, geriatric social workers, religious leaders, and lawyers.
These professional advisors often include care givers, such as nursing home
administrators, physicians, and nurses, in addition to the elder and otehr
interested family members.
Why choose mediation?
Family dynamics are complicated. They have taken years to evolve and they are
further compounded by the transitions inherent in the changing lifestyle,
relationships and needs of an elder. Family disputes that have been simmering
for years often can obscure the best intentions of all involved. Mediation
enables proactive families to have good discussions and 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 outside of a courtroom. The family knows what is best
for them and mediation gives them the vehicle to make their own best decisions.
Who is the
mediator?
Barbara Manousso, Ph.D.(ABD),
M.P.H. has been mediating elder care issues for over ten years. She has
been a professional mediator since 1993 and has earned the Credentialed
Distinguished from the Texas Certified Mediators Association. She is an
international trainer and popular lecturer on elder issues. Her articles
have appeared in professional journals. She is also a National Certified
Guardian and Texas Certified Guardian.
Mediations are held at her Houston facility in Uptown, at nursing facilities, and parties' homes, where ever it is convenient for the senior to participate.
We also have a wonderful panel of mediators to choose from. Their bios and rates will be coming soon. In the meantime, Barbara Manousso will help you match your motivation and budget with our team.
How are mediated agreements made?
Mediated agreements are the result of shared decision-making by the family for
the family. With the help of a trained mediator, the process is cooperative, not
adversarial, and leaves all decision making in the hands of the participants.
When is mediation appropriate?
Mediation is an appropriate forum for resolving any conflict where the parties
involved participate voluntarily in the confidential process and are motivated
to develop an agreement that improves their situation.
Is mediation right for your family?
If you are grappling with issues related to an elder’s financial
responsibilities, capacity to make important decisions, or arrangements
regarding daily living and assistance needs, mediation probably is the right
road for you. Mediation lets you design realistic, workable solutions that
preserve family relationships and emotional health.
Next steps
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from structured assistance in family
decision making, contact Manousso Mediation at (713)840-0828. We will discuss
your situation with you to understand the scope of the issues and the other
parties whom you think should be involved. Following this, the other identified
parties will be contacted for some further discussion, basic information
gathering, and scheduling of the mediation process.
We recommend beginning the mediation process before a crisis occurs to ensure
that thoughtful well-considered strategies for dealing with life transitions are
put in place. Mediation can strengthen family ties and enable all family members
to deal with the changing nature of their relationships in a way that provides
peace of mind and leaves
them with no regrets in the future.
Payment
Mediation is very cost
effective if it saves the filing of lawsuit. It not only saves money, but
it saves time. Court proceedings can take years to get resolved. A
mediation can be held within a few days, sometimes hours, depending on the
urgency of the situation. In most cases, the parties divide the hourly
cost among themselves. Sometimes, one family member handles the whole
payment.
People ask, what will this cost. The real question is what will the cost be if you don't do mediation! Ans: It all depends on the motivation of the parties to participate in good faith.
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