Cathy Cress, author of Handbook of Geriatric Care Management, Third Edition, looks deeper into GCM and the possible need for professional mediation:
Have you ever thrown up your hands with an aging, dysfunctional family and considered a mediator? Based on Stanford attorney and professional mediator, Dana Cutis’s breakthrough new chapter, “Mediation: The GCM as the Accidental Mediator” in the Handbook of Geriatric Care Management, 3rd edition, there are main factors that can be identified in determining whether a geriatric should to recommend the services of a professional mediator. These factors include: difficulty of the family, degree of emotional conflict, and complexity of the problem. Below are some early indicators that these factors weigh in favor of mediation in the earliest stage of GCM consultation:
- Family members are focusing on their own needs to the exclusion of their older family member’s needs, therefore requiring the GCM to be such a strong advocate for the older family member that the GCM cannot facilitate family meetings as a credible accidental mediator.