When your family needs to decide together about a parent’s care
Deciding whether Mom can stay home, who will drive Dad to appointments, or how to pay for assisted living can strain even close families. I help adult children, spouses, and caregivers talk through these decisions with the older adult’s wishes at the center — and leave with a plan everyone understands.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call (703) 727-8839Free and confidential · I reply within 1–2 business days · In person in Northern Virginia or by secure video
Conversations families bring to elder mediation
Elder mediation isn’t therapy and it isn’t a lawsuit. It’s a structured family meeting with a neutral facilitator focused on practical decisions.
Where a parent will live
Staying at home with support, moving in with a family member, independent living, assisted living, or memory care.
Who does what
Sharing appointments, groceries, medications, and visits fairly, especially when one sibling lives nearby and others don’t.
Paying for care
Talking openly about costs and contributions, and whether a family caregiver should be compensated.
Safety conversations
Driving, living alone, and other hard topics, handled with respect for the older adult’s dignity.
Transparency & trust
How the family member managing finances or medical decisions will keep everyone informed.
Caregiver burnout
Making room for the primary caregiver to be heard and to get real relief.
A neutral voice for families spread across the map
Northern Virginia families are often scattered. One sibling lives in Burke, another in Richmond, and a third in another state. I run sessions in person, by secure video, or as a hybrid, so every family member can take part and the older adult can join in whatever way is comfortable for them — even from their own living room.
Mediation works well alongside the other professionals in your family’s life: care managers, doctors, financial advisors, and elder law attorneys. With everyone’s agreement, I can coordinate with them so the family’s decisions reflect good information. Each Northern Virginia jurisdiction also has an area agency on aging, which can be a helpful source of information about local services.
Above all, the older adult’s voice matters. Whenever possible, they take part in the conversation, and we adapt the pace, format, and length of sessions to their health and wishes.
How a family care mediation unfolds
Free consultation
Any family member can call to talk about the situation and who should be involved.
Intake calls
I speak privately with each participating family member to understand their concerns and hopes.
Family meeting
A facilitated session, in person, by video, or hybrid, focused on the decisions in front of you.
Written care plan
A written summary or Family Care Agreement so everyone knows who is doing what, plus a follow-up check-in.
Elder care mediation pricing
Fees cover the whole family, and many siblings share them:
- Family Care Conversation — $950. Up to 3.5 hours: intake with up to three family members and one 2-hour facilitated family meeting.
- Family Care Plan — $2,400. Up to 9 hours: up to two sessions (virtual, in person, or hybrid) and a written Family Care Agreement.
- Complex Elder & Estate Mediation — $3,900. Up to 15 hours for larger or higher-conflict families, including inheritance and estate disagreements.
- Hourly — $275/hour if you prefer to pay as you go.
Why work with Sara
Before mediation, I worked as a law clerk at an estate planning firm from 2019 to 2021, where I saw how often families struggle to talk about aging, care, and money until a crisis forces the conversation. I’d rather help you have it calmly.
I bring patience, structure, and close to two decades of experience keeping many voices moving toward a shared outcome. I stay neutral and don’t give legal or medical advice.
- J.D., University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law; George Mason University alum
- Close to two decades in federal consulting, legal operations, and organizational strategy
- Mediation training: 40-hour basic mediation, 24-hour family mediation, and a 4-hour Virginia Judicial System orientation
- Neutral by design: I don’t practice law, give legal advice, or represent either side
Elder care mediation questions
Does our parent have to participate?
Whenever possible, yes — it’s their life. We adapt to their health and wishes, and they can join by phone, by video, or with a support person.
What if a sibling lives out of state?
That’s very common. Family members can join by secure video, and hybrid sessions let some people meet in person while others join remotely.
Can you help if we disagree about memory care?
Yes. We can talk through options, costs, and concerns, and bring in information from care managers or doctors with everyone’s permission.
Do you handle guardianship or powers of attorney?
I don’t give legal advice or prepare legal documents. Families can use mediation to talk through decision-making roles, and then work with their own attorney on any documents.
How many sessions does it take?
Many families reach a plan in one or two sessions. Larger or higher-conflict families may need more.
More answers on the full FAQ page.
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Make the next decision together
Book a free, confidential 15-minute consultation. Any family member can reach out first.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call (703) 727-8839