For Elders

First, consider who has as interest in the matter – for example, children, grandchildren and siblings. (We refer to those with an interest as stakeholders.)

Then, speak to each of them to gauge their potential interest in using elder mediation to help. Ask each of them for permission to pass on their phone and email details to us.

We will get in contact with them to establish their initial willingness to engage us. You can tell them that they may contact us directly first, if they want to.

Finally, once you have done that, get in touch with us yourself and we’ll disuss the matter with you, in confidence, to see how we can help.

For Family Members

Consider who has as interest in the matter – for example, the elder family member themselves, children, grandchildren and siblings.  (We refer to those with an interest as stakeholders).

If the elder person has capacity, before you do anything else, speak to them about elder mediation. Establish if they support the idea that the problem at hand might helpfully be adressed through mediation with the other stakeholders.

Then, speak to each of the other stakeholders to gauge their potential interest in using mediation to help.

Ask each of them for permission to pass on their phone and email details to us. We will then get in contact with them to establish their initial willingness to engage us. You can tell them that they may contact us directly first, if they want to.

Finally, once you have done that, get in touch with us yourself and we’ll disuss the matter with you, in confidence, to see how we can help.

Where do meetings take place?

If all elder mediation stakeholders live within convenient travelling distance of Ipswich, mediation can take place at our consulting rooms at The Hub, Hubbard way, 2 Civic Drive, Ipswich, IP4 2BY.

Providing the elder person’s accommodation has an appropriate space, mediation could take place there if this is more convenient for them.

Should the stakeholders not live within convenient travelling distance of Ipswich, we would assess the options. One of these would be for the meetings to take place at a location central to all the stakeholders.

Where the stakeholders don’t live within convenient travelling distance of each other – perhaps some being abroad – elder mediation could take place over computer video.

How long does it take?

The duration and number of joint elder mediation sessions will mainly be determined by six factors.

First, the nature of the problem or dispute. The more complex the issues, and the more polarised the positions of the stakeholders, the more likely it is that mediation will take longer.

Second, how far apart the stakeholders live. The nearer they live, the more convenient it should be for everyone to meet at a convenient location. If they all live a long way apart, then online elder mediation over computer video might be a cost-effective option.

Third, whether the problem can be addressed in a single half-day or day long joint session, or if it will need a series of shorter meetings held over the course of a few weeks or months.

Fourth, the physical health of the stakeholders. As we age, we become less able to concentrate for long periods of time. Elder mediation requires all those involved to be alert enough to make decisions. The longer a session needs to be, the more we build in short breaks to accommodate this.  The shorter the sessions are, longer breaks of a week or more are typically arranged between sessions to give time for reflection.

Fifth, the numbers of stakeholders and others. Quite simply, the more participants there are in any mediation, the more difficult it is to find meeting times and dates that are convenient for all.

Sixth, the willingness of the stakeholders to achieve an outcome that is acceptable to all.