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Mediation and Group Planning for Senior Citizens and their Families

The goal of this service is to help senior citizens and their families resolve internal disputes and collectively formulate plans to address issues that arise regarding aging parents.

What does this service include?

This service provides support for senior citizens and their families to prepare for, and resolve conflicts related to, the exigencies of aging. The planning and mediation processes aim to ensure that the elderly receive optimal treatment while enabling their family caregivers to receive the support they need.

Several Mosaica models exist:

  1. Intergenerational Family Mediation

Mosaica offers a new model of intergenerational family mediation that assists in resolving these unique conflicts and promotes planning and preparing for aging, as well as making decisions and family agreements.

This form of mediation addresses various areas, including:

  • Manner of caring for the elderly parent
  • Living conditions of the elderly parent
  • Appointment of a guardian, alternate, continuous power of attorney, or decision-making supporter (SDM)
  • Wills, estates, and asset division
  • Delegation of family roles

Intergenerational family mediation may require several meetings to address the complexity of the case. For additional information regarding mediation, please press this link.

  1. Coaching for Family Caregivers

Coaching family caregivers helps people caring for an older family member analyze these unique situations: understanding the challenges, obstacles, and strengths. Participants receive a special blend of mediation tools to encourage optimal communication within the family and facilitate the development of an action plan that provides solutions for the complex requirements of the elderly. This process is designed to improve both family relationships, and the health and quality of life of parents and their caregivers.

For general information on coaching and its advantages, please press this link.

When is this service relevant?

  1. When disputes arise in the family regarding the care of an elderly parent: treatment, housing, guardian appointment, continuous power of attorney, wills and inheritance, asset division, role assignment, etc.
  2. When health changes occur, or when the parent’s mental or cognitive status requires planning for the future.
  3. When the current family caregiver suffers from undue stress related to the burden of tasks, and the situation must be revised, including putting a support system into effect for the caregiver.

Who are the mediators and coaches?

These services are provided by qualified and experienced mediators who have undergone specialized training in intergenerational family mediation and coaching for family caregivers.

Who refers, or is referred to, mediation?

Any person experiencing an intergenerational family dispute and any family caregiver may contact Mosaica independently. Mosaica also collaborates with many organizations that refer people to the service: including family courts, municipal welfare departments, community managers, NGOs, and other organizations and official bodies.

Where is the coaching held?

Residents of Jerusalem or the surrounding area may come to the Mosaica offices on 32 General Pierre Koenig St., Talpiot, Jerusalem. Mosaica also offers online services via Zoom.

In addition, Mosaica collaborates with over 45 Community Dialogue and Mediation Centers in the community across the country and can refer people to centers close to their place of residence.

How much does it cost?

The cost is divided equally between all parties and depends on the type of mediation and number of meetings required. The cost is determined after an initial intake call with the parties.

It is important to note that financial constraints should not be a reason for this program not to take place. When needed, applications for partial or full subsidies can be submitted and will be reviewed by the Center’s executive committee.

What language is used during mediation?

Hebrew, English, French, Russian, Arabic

Examples

Have you ever heard the phrase, “the operation was successful, but the patient died”?

That is exactly what happened to the family that turned to Mosaica for intergenerational mediation after a legal proceeding regarding their inheritance had been completed. During the proceeding, one party emerged victorious, but family relationships were destroyed in the process: in effect, the “patient” died. This case, like so many others, demonstrates the high price, not only financial, paid by family members who take legal action against their kin.

However, in this case, one member of family refused to give up. Despite his grievances, he contacted Mosaica for mediation in order to restore the relationships destroyed by his legal “victory.” Additional family members agreed to join the process, saying that they had nothing left to lose, as the world’s most precious resource – that of family – had already been lost. The family was no longer what it used to be; it had collapsed.

During the mediation sessions, each of the parties had the chance to deeply listen to each other, fully understand each other’s point of view and the needs driving them. After this important step, they managed to see beyond their narrow viewpoints and accept that there were other perspectives of which they had previously been unaware. Slowly, they released their personal grievances in order to listen and see the humanity of the others. Due to this process and their determination to improve, they were able to revive the love they had lost in the process of the court case. Solutions were consensually agreed upon and formalized in a contract.