What are approximate costs for care mediation?
I have 2 siblings and live out of state from them and my mother. My mother has been living in independent living in a senior complex. She has cancer and other health problems. Recently her memory has been deteriorating and I am concerned about her living alone. Her financial situation is also not good, though she does have a pension and social security. My siblings have strained her resources and now when she needs her funds for additional care they are gone. I would like to talk to them about making a plan, but we can't get anywhere on our own, I think we need an intermediary.
Expert Answer
Hello there,
I'm so glad you recognize the importance of getting help with your situation! And the good news is that there are many options for finding this kind of assistance. Since you didn't state what area of the country you live in, I can't provide specific information, as services do vary, but I can give you some good tips as to how to proceed.
First, you can call on a few different kinds of professionals for help. Good resources include geriatric care managers, private professional healthcare advocates, or private mediators. Take a look at the following websites to locate one of these professionals in your area: http://www.caremanager.org/; www.nahac.com; or http://www.professionalfamilymediators.org/.
As for price, there will be a range, so be sure to be clear with whomever you speak to about what you are able to afford. Some companies work on a sliding scale, others may even provide some services for free. Tell them that the siblings aren't all in the same geographic area and see if they provide video conferencing.
Finally, if there's a social worker or geriatric care manager on staff where you mother is living, you might want to speak with them first to get some information as to what other local services might be available.
Much good luck to you and your family going forward.