Several months ago, after wrestling with a painful family problem -- whether an older parent should continue driving -- I mentioned to several friends that an elder mediator might have helped. Invariably, I was met with puzzled looks: No one knew what I was talking about.

Let me explain -- and tell you why these individuals could be very helpful in the years ahead.

A small but growing number of mediators (people who help resolve disputes, typically outside a courtroom) now specialize in elder affairs. They help families work through concerns -- and fights -- involving caregiving, inheritance, living arrangements, estate planning and related issues. The idea has been around for several years. The Association for Conflict Resolution, a trade organization for mediators, added an elder-decision-making group in 2009. Demographics, of course, explain the development: The 85-plus age group is the fastest-growing segment of the population. Still, elder mediators say their work remains a mystery to most. "People make the assumption, 'If I have a problem, I need an attorney,'" says Barbara Sunderland Manousso, founder of a mediation network based in Houston.

Read the rest of the article [HERE]