Archives for September 2018

A Culture of Dialogue: The Psychology Behind Family Disputes and How to Resolve Them

September 20, 2018 by

Some families are toxic. They pass poisonous habits, attitudes, and values onto others in the family, business, or other relationships. Toxic personalities injure, weaken, and destroy others. And, such families need focused and long-term professional help.

But, family disputes are not necessarily toxic. Most family disputes are common and natural. Just think of those with adolescents in the house! Most family disputes are healthy. As Psychology Today notes, “When you come to think of it, an essential part of marriage is quickly resolving the endless difference of opinion about everything from decorating to how to manage the children.”

Of course, the rate of divorce proves how difficult it can be to resolve family conflicts. Though they can at least be soothed at the breaking point by family law specialists like jennifer croker or similar professionals that deal with conflicting families. This way, families that are breaking up can do so on more amicable terms. With that in mind, it’s important to understand the psychology of family disputes and how to resolve them.

A culture of dialogue

Typical family disputes lead to behavioral changes like anger, avoidance, jealousy, and passive/aggressive responses. If they worsen, family members may pursue substance abuse or develop anxiety, depression, or other psychological disorders. And, the circumstances and conditions spread their influence to other family members.

Faced with family disputes, families should turn to counseling sooner than later because these problems do not get better with age. A solution to these negative behaviors and seemingly impossible resolution lies in advice from a professional mediator.

Mediation calls on a neutral mediator to assist clients in finding unique resolutions to their own distinct conflicts. And, it’s this advice that creates a culture of dialogue.

The mediator is trained to facilitate discussion and collaboration among the parties to the family disputes to help them discover and craft the best possible resolution of the conflict. If the dispute has approached litigation, the respective lawyers may participate. But, the mediator keeps the parties to the dispute involved in a culture of dialogue in a process that makes them part of the solution as well.

Because the disputants craft the outcome, it is more satisfying than legal settlement.

How to resolve family disputes

Perhaps, the ideal is to create a family environment in which disputes don’t happen or members resolve their own problems. For instance, the Dalai Lama is credited with creating the idea of “a culture of dialogue.” He taught, “A culture of dialogue is one in which people habitually gather together to explore their lives, their differences, their dreams. Every facet of such a culture would contribute to people learning together, building healthy relationships with each other and the natural world, and co-creating better prospects for their shared future.”

Sadly, most family disputes start and end without such sentiments. However, a professional mediator is trained and experienced in structuring, facilitating, and monitoring the same process. Mediation helps people explore their lives and differences. It encourages them to build healthy relationships. And, they do it by co-creating better prospects.

The lesson learned is, before you let a family dispute reach a violent stage, a hostile divorce, or estrangement from your children, it makes sense to seek the advice of a qualified mediator committed to resolving the situation that created the tension and to structure a solution with the full participation of the parties. Good lawyers will suggest the mediation route even if it avoids divorce or other final but emotionally costly solutions.

Filed Under: Mom's Corner, Mommy Talk

Protecting the Elderly: 4 Types of Nursing Home Abuse and How to Spot It

September 14, 2018 by

The statistics on nursing home abuse in the US are alarming. According to nationalhomeabuseguide.org, in excess of 40 percent of nursing home residents have reported abuse. Research from 2010 shows that up to half of all nursing home workers admitted to abusing or neglecting patients. It must be noted that not every case gets reported. This abuse can be both mental and physical, each one can be as permanent as the other, which is why it needs to come to a stop immediately. For physical injuries, lawyers like https://lawtx.com/ can be called to take over the situation and fight for the rightful and deserved justice of these victims. Despite this, the trauma can cut a deep scar that even a court case can remove.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elder abuse is “any abuse and neglect of persons age 60 and older by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust.” Experts, such as this attorney, will tell you to seek legal help if you believe a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse.

This article will describe four types of elder abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional/psychological abuse and neglect. By the end, you’ll know the signs of each type and what you should do if you suspect any kind of abuse.

Physical abuse

This is when elderly patients suffer physical abuse, pain, or impairment because of bad treatment or neglect. This type of abuse is common and can lead to life-threatening injuries. Nursing home patients may even die. Most often, it is believed that the physical injury is caused by the caregivers of the nursing home. However, sometimes it’s a visitor or even another resident. Physical abuse can be active such as hitting or kicking but it can also include injuries caused by neglect and improper use of restraints. Signs include unexplained injuries, bruises, malnutrition, and dehydration. Though the abuse might be due to the reason that the nursing homes are understaffed and lack sufficient training, the effects of such injury could prove to be deadly.

Sexual abuse

This is unwanted physical and sexual contact with an elderly person. It includes sexual contact with a patient who is disoriented or otherwise unable to give consent. Women are more likely to become victims of elder sexual abuse. This type of abuse includes sexual assault and battery, rape, forced nudity and sexual photography. Signs include STDs and infections, bruises in the genital area or breasts, vaginal bleeding, anxiety, and fear around the caregiver.

Emotional abuse

This is the most difficult type of abuse to measure or prove. It doesn’t leave physical evidence and may not always be witnessed. Emotional abuse is when someone acts in a way that causes an elderly person emotional pain and suffering. It can be both verbal and non-verbal and includes yelling, making threats, withdrawing affection and taking away personal items. Patients treated in this way may become fearful or withdrawn or experience changes in behavior.

Neglect

This is negligence on the part of the nursing home to give proper care. Examples include isolation, malnutrition, falls and improper medication management. Family members who visit the nursing home will likely see the signs. They include an unclean or unsafe environment, sudden weight loss and bruising. You may also see a staff member who appears discontent or disinterested.

What to do when you suspect abuse

One of the reasons abuse often goes unreported is that loved ones don’t know what to do when they suspect something is wrong. One option is to visit the National Center on Elder Abuse site for information on who should be contacted in your state. You can talk to your loved one’s doctor or find out if there’s a social worker assigned to your area. Don’t be afraid to call 911 if the situation is urgent and you believe the elderly person’s life is in danger. Once you have made a report, contact a personal injury attorney about you should proceed.

Filed Under: Health, Mom's Corner