Founders of the Elder Mediation Center of New Jersey (EMCNJ) will present a program entitled “Elder Mediation: An Ethical Approach,” at the ABA’s Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference to be held in New York City on April 16th. A summary of the EMCNJ’s session follows:

Elder Mediation: An Ethical Approach
Elder mediation is designed to resolve conflicts between older adults, families and others. Elder mediation disputes include matters with a legal basis (decision-making capability, guardianship, real estate issues, estate resolution); family disagreements (living arrangements, driving, second marriages or partnerships, neglect); community disputes (landlord/tenant, maintenance of property, pets); bio-ethical matters (medical treatment, end-of-life issues, advance directive interpretation). Unlike other areas of dispute resolution, the person who is most at risk, the older adult, oftentimes is unable to fully participate due to diminished capacity. Participants will learn of an elder mediation process that upholds fundamental ethical principles stressing autonomy and self-determination.

The founders of the Elder Mediation Center of New Jersey are:

  • Marcie Cooper, Marcie Cooper Care Management LLC, Fair Lawn, NJ
  • Anthony J. Serra, Esq., Serra Weiss, Princeton, NJ
  • Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq., Law Office of Vanarelli & Li, LLC, Westfield, NJ
  • Nina E. Weiss, Esq., Serra Weiss, Princeton, NJ