Mrs. Baker is intent on returning to independent living in the home she has lived in for the past 40 years. Carol's lawyer has advised her that her only option is to file a petition for guardianship to resolve these issues. Perhaps, there may be. In 1995, the Center for Social Gerontology in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with funding from the Hewlett Foundation and the Retirement Research Foundation, developed a national model for adult guardianship mediation. That model is currently being tested in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Ohio.
Mediation is facilitated negotiation.
Typically, it is an informal alternative to the adversary system that allows parties to resolve a dispute with a mutually acceptable written agreement. Sessions take place in a private, confidential setting where all participants have a voice. The mediator's primary goal is to assist the parties in reaching a mutually acceptable resolution. In many cases, mediation may be more helpful than a formal court hearing where typically all parties cannot be heard and deeply divisive family conflicts cannot be resolved. Cases that have ongoing relationships between the parties, whether business or personal, are often the most suitable for mediation.