Family Care Consultation and Planning

The Family Care Consultation and Planning services at Integrated Psychology Group (IPG) are designed to facilitate constructive dialogue and resolution among family members facing the unique challenges associated with aging. This program addresses family conflicts, stressors, and decision fatigue that may arise due to health changes, caregiving responsibilities, estate planning, or other age-related issues.

Program Overview

Families can begin early to facilitate meaningful transitions of legacy with their aging parents by engaging in open and proactive conversations about future plans and consideration—both emotional (e.g. relationship repair, feelings about the loss of a parent, shifting family leadership and kinkeeping), and practical (e.g. transfer of resources, legal responsibilities, housing options). Establishing a clear understanding of their parents' values, wishes, and expectations allows families to create a thoughtful and respectful framework for managing both personal and financial aspects of legacy. Early planning is crucial because it alleviates the burden of these decisions later in life, preventing adult children from having to navigate complex issues or make difficult choices during a time of grief. By addressing key topics such as estate planning, healthcare preferences, and the distribution of personal assets, families can ensure that transitions are smooth and aligned with their parents' wishes. This proactive approach not only helps avoid potential conflicts and confusion but also strengthens family bonds through shared decision-making and mutual respect. Our program includes the following components which are tailored to your unique family needs:

Conflict Resolution and Communication: The program provides a structured environment where family members can address and resolve conflicts in a respectful and productive manner. Mediators help facilitate open and effective communication, ensuring that all voices are heard and that disagreements are addressed constructively.
Navigating Health and Care Decisions: As older adults face health-related changes, family dynamics often shift. Our mediation services assist families in making collaborative decisions about healthcare, caregiving, and other critical issues. We focus on aligning family members’ perspectives and creating a cohesive plan that respects the needs and wishes of the older adult.
Estate Planning and Financial Discussions: Discussions about estate planning, financial matters, and inheritance can be sensitive and complex. The program supports families in navigating these conversations, aiming to prevent disputes and ensure that decisions are made transparently and equitably.
Family Dynamics and Role Adjustments: Aging can lead to changes in family roles and relationships. Our mediators work with families to address role transitions, caregiving responsibilities, and shifting dynamics, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.
Emotional Support and Empathy: Mediation provides a platform for family members to express their emotions and concerns in a safe and neutral setting. The program emphasizes empathy and understanding, helping to bridge gaps in communication and build stronger family bonds.
Creating Actionable Agreements: The goal of mediation is to develop practical and actionable agreements that address family concerns and support the well-being of the older adult. Our mediators assist families in crafting solutions that are acceptable to all parties and that promote positive outcomes.

Benefits of the Family Mediation for Older Adults Program:

Enhanced communication and understanding among family members.
Effective resolution of conflicts related to health, caregiving, and financial issues.
Collaborative decision-making that respects the needs and preferences of the older adult.
Improved family dynamics and role adjustments.
A supportive environment for addressing sensitive and complex issues.

The Family Mediation for Older Adults program at IPG offers a dynamic and professional approach to resolving family conflicts and facilitating collaborative decision-making. By focusing on clear communication and mutual respect, we help families navigate the complexities of aging with greater harmony and understanding.

Cost

$600 for the initial 2 hour intake; $300 per subsequent session
We recommend 3-4 subsequent sessions depending on family involvement and needs. This service includes a comprehensive written plan of action, and accompanying packet of information and resources.

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Background

The Brown family consists of Jane (age 68), her husband, Jose (age 70), and their three adult children: Maria (age 42), Michael (age 40), and Isobel (age 36). Recently, the family had faced escalating conflicts related to Jane’s declining health, caregiving responsibilities, and financial matters.

Jane had been diagnosed with a chronic illness that required ongoing medical treatment and increased daily support. As her health had declined, the family had struggled to navigate the complexities of caregiving and financial management. Tensions had risen among the siblings regarding the division of caregiving duties, with disagreements about how to manage Jane’s finances and long-term care plans.

Isobel, who lives nearby, felt overwhelmed by the daily caregiving responsibilities and believed that Michael and Maria should contribute more. Michael and Maria, who lived in different states, felt that Isobel was being overly demanding and did not consider the challenges they faced in providing support from afar. Financial disputes had also surfaced, with differing opinions on how Jane’s savings should be allocated for her care and whether to consider a long-term care facility.

The ongoing disputes had created significant strain within the family, impacting their relationships and overall family harmony. The Browns had decided to seek family mediation to facilitate open dialogue, resolve disputes, and develop actionable agreements that support Jane’s well-being and the family’s unity.

How the Program Helped

The Family Mediation program provided the Brown family with a structured and empathetic approach to address their conflicts related to health, caregiving, and financial matters. The program focused on facilitating open dialogue, resolving disputes, and developing actionable agreements. Key components of the program for the Brown family included:

Facilitated Open Dialogue: The mediator facilitated structured conversations among family members, creating a safe and neutral environment where each person could express their concerns, needs, and perspectives. This helped ensure that all voices were heard and understood.
Identifying Common Goals: The mediation process helped the family identify common goals and priorities related to Jane’s care and financial management. This included understanding the shared objective of ensuring Jane’s well-being and maintaining family harmony.
Resolving Caregiving Disputes: The mediator worked with the family to develop a fair and manageable caregiving plan. This involved addressing concerns about the distribution of responsibilities, finding solutions that consider each family member’s circumstances, and creating a schedule that worked for everyone.
Financial Planning and Agreements: The mediation addressed financial conflicts by exploring options for managing Jane’s finances, including budgeting for her care and considering long-term care solutions. The mediator helped the family develop a financial plan that aligned with Jane’s needs and the family’s consensus.
Developing Actionable Agreements: Mediation assisted the family in creating clear and actionable agreements that outline responsibilities, financial arrangements, and caregiving plans. These agreements were designed to support Jane’s care while fostering family unity and reducing conflicts.
Enhancing Family Communication: The program focused on improving overall family communication and relationship dynamics. This included providing tools for effective communication and conflict resolution that could be used beyond the mediation sessions.

The Family Mediation program aimed to help the Brown family resolve their conflicts related to Jane’s health, caregiving, and finances, and develop actionable agreements that promoted family harmony. By facilitating open dialogue and addressing their concerns in a structured manner, the mediation helped the family work together to support Jane’s well-being and maintain positive relationships.

The Brown Family

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We look forward to hearing from famlies in the beginning, middle, or end of their generational transitions.

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