A large number of seniors suffer from dementia, defined as “the loss of mental functions — such as thinking, memory, and reasoning — that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily functioning.” Because it affects so many seniors, dementia is often confused with Alzheimer’s disease. However, Alzheimer’s is a specific disease whereas dementia refers to a cluster of symptoms, such as short-term memory loss and poor judgment. Alzheimer’s is incurable, but some ... Click for more

Newcomers to the growing field of elder mediation often ask me, “How do I build my practice?” The reality is, you can only build a thriving practice if you’re seen as a knowledgeable, credentialed professional who has done their due diligence and is committed to ongoing training in the field. The importance of ongoing training and professional development can’t be stressed enough. Elder mediation is an emerging field, so theories and best practices are always evolving. The only way to ... Click for more

When the time comes to place a loved one in a nursing or retirement home, it’s easy to be anxious about making the right choice. For example, depending on where we live, the number of residential options available to families may be limited. This lack of choice can make us reluctant to ask about the level of care that residents receive, and what we can do if we have concerns about treatment or living conditions. As consumers, we frequently research products and don’t think twice about ... Click for more

Starting in January 2012, we will be offering a unique opportunity for everyone pursuing a vocation in elder mediation: a one-of-a-kind Internship Program for those who successfully complete our Elder Mediation Training Program. We’re pleased to welcome Summer Nudel to Marathon Mediation as our new Internship Program Director. She will be heading up this Internship Program – and we think she’s the perfect person for the task! A registered social worker and an Accredited Family Mediator, ... Click for more

On April 7 and 8 of this year, we marked a turning point in the growing professional field of elder mediation. That weekend witnessed Canada’s first ever Elder Mediation Training Program (EMTP). My fellow professionals and I at Marathon Mediation recognized the growing need to such a program and took it upon ourselves to organize this landmark event. I’m pleased to report that the program was rated a great success by our participants, who came from the fields of mediation, gerontology, ... Click for more

Shortly after Japan was struck by a record-breaking earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, dramatic photographs of the devastation began making their way around the world. One particularly memorable image showed an elderly man being carried out of the rubble by a uniformed member of the Japanese Self-Defense Force. The photo was emblematic of one of the most famous aspects of traditional Japanese culture: its reverence for its oldest citizens. In Japan, where the family has long been ... Click for more

Canadians were shocked this week to learn of an extreme case of elder abuse in Scarborough, Ontario. A man and his wife were charged with failing to provide the necessities of life, after police and paramedics discovered the man’s 68-year-old mother living in the couple’s unheated garage. The woman is being treated in hospital for frostbite and other injuries. The “mentally incompetent” woman was banished to the “filthy” garage last November. According to reports, her son and legal ... Click for more

For some of us, the end of the year is a season of joyful celebrations that will become treasured memories. For other people, however, family get-togethers are stressful even before they begin, as they anticipate reopening emotional wounds and adding to old grudges. One way to make the holidays more bearable is to lower your expectations. While we imagine this year will be different and we truly hope it will be, reality sets in soon after you — or they — walk through the door. But ... Click for more

We all know that Canada’s large “Baby Boomer” cohort is aging rapidly. According to Statistics Canada: By 2036, the number of seniors will reach approximately 10 million — more than double the 4.7 million in 2009 Seniors will account for almost 25% of the population by that time — nearly double the 13.9% in 2009 This growing number of seniors is already challenging Canada’s social safety net and healthcare system. On a personal level, almost every family ... Click for more

When it comes to dealing with the elderly, we are often faced with providing care for them – the best care possible. Given our busy lives, and our never-ending “to do” lists, turning to hiring a care-provider becomes an important option. But it is a big decision; one that family members put much thought into, and one that creates considerable anxiety because finding the “right” person to look after the needs of an aging parent is not always easy. A few key considerations make for a ... Click for more