Harris County Long Term Care Mediation Program

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Local Aging Resources Online

The University of Texas- Houston, School of Nursing Center on Aging is engaged in research and provides training in a variety of areas impacting older adults. The Center on Aging also houses the Harris County Ombudsman Program. http:/www.uthcoa.org

Harris County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is part of a nationwide network coordinating supportive services for the elderly as mandated by the Older Americans Act of 1965 and its subsequent amendments. The AAA plans and contracts for services for senior citizens throughout Houston and Harris County. For more information see
http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/departme/health/area_agingpage.html

Senior Guidance Directory is the premiere and most trusted resource of vital community services available in the greater Houston metropolitan area. http://www.srguidance.org/index.htm

Care for Elders strives to improve care and services provided to vulnerable older adults and family caregivers in Harris County through collaborative problem solving and strategic planning that involves consumers, providers, funding organizations, and other major stakeholders in the long-term care system. http://careforelders.org

General Mediation Resources

The Dispute Resolution Center of Harris County. Established in 1980, is a non-profit corporation sponsored by the Houston Bar Association and funded through Harris County. The DRC provides free alternative dispute resolution services to the residents of Harris County. The Center's primary focus is mediation. The DRC mediates disputes in the following areas: family, neighbors, auto repair, landlord and tenant, consumer and merchant, homeowner associations, employment. http://www.co.harris.tx.us/drc/

University of Texas School of Law Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution maintains an information state and national link page. This site lists professional organizations for mediators, as well as additional training and volunteer opportunities.
http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/centers/cppdr/links.html

Association for Conflict Resolution A professional organization dedicated to enhancing the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution. http://www.acrnet.org

Mediation & Aging Resources on the Web

The Center for Social Gerontology - The Center for Social Gerontology, Inc. (TCSG), since its inception in 1972, has been a non-profit research, training and social policy organization dedicated to promoting the individual autonomy of older persons and advancing their well-being in society. TCSG has pursued this goal through a wide variety of projects, including serving since 1985 as an Administration on Aging-funded National Support Center in Law & Aging. http://www.tcsg.org/

Access the Mediate.com Library http://www.mediate.com/articles

Eldercare Mediation: A New Way to Make Decisions Regarding Aging Parents
The article describes how families can work together in making collaborative decisions regarding the care of elderly parents. It defines and explains family mediation, noting the kinds of topics that can be discussed.
Janet Mitchell

Addressing Capacity: What Is the Role of the Mediator?
Since we want people to mediate their disputes, mediators should begin by assuming capacity and should be loathe to exclude a party based on lack of capacity – should set the bar low. Yet mediators also must ensure that if a conflict is mediated a party in fact can understand the process and abide by the outcome.
Erica Wood

Ensuring Self-Determination through Mediation Readiness: Ethical Considerations
To exercise self-determination, disputants must possess the capability to participate effectively in the process, a topic of recent inquiry. This article will examine a few implications of self-determination for mediation practice.
Tim Hedeen

Locate a copy of Keep talking, keep listening: mediating nursing home care conflicts

World Cat: Window to the World’s Libraries
http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/ow/9500549f1da3d09ba19afeb4da09e526.html

Learn more about Older Adult Mediation programs nationwide

Family Caregiver/Shared Decision-Making Services
Dispute Resolution Center of Washtenaw County, Michigan
http://www.mimediation.org/pages/familycaregiver.htm

Multi-State Family Caregiver Mediation Project
Michigan as featured in the Administration on Aging | 2002 Annual Report 16
This project uses mediation to assist frail older persons and their family caregivers to address and resolve problems and disputes which arise when families face the physical, emotional, and financial demands of providing long-term care to an older family member. http://www.aoa.gov/about/annual_report/ar_supporting_care.pdf

Mediation: A New Option for Medicare Beneficiaries
This CMS initiative began as a pilot project in two states - NY and CA. As of September 2003 it has been expanded nationally. See an overview of how the initiative works. http://www.ltcombudsman.org/ombpublic/49_369_4531.cfm

National long-term Care Resource Center offers training materials on basic complaint handling and other topics geared for long term care ombudsmen, but of interest to anyone facing disputes in a LTC setting. http://www.ltcombudsman.org/ombpublic/49_781_2743.cfm

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