As We Age we are called upon to make decisions about critical issues that include retirement, wills and estate planning, and ongoing personal and medical care, with the goal of maximizing our quality of life during our senior years.   Conflict May Complicate Matters if there is disagreement among loved ones affected by our decisions, and we worry that our relationships will be damaged.   Mediation Can Help by providing a productive process for working toward the resolution of these conflicts.  xx xx Sometimes We Need Help The process of making decisions is complex enough taking only our own needs and interests into account.  When our children or other affected relatives and friends have differences of opinion—with us or with each other—about some of these issues, there is the possibility of hard feelings and poor decision-making.  When there are blended families or a recent marriage, the situation can become even more complicated.   In addition, we are dealing with serious and significant issues that, by their very nature, may call up strong emotions.  Consideration of end-of-life needs can feel so morbid that we want to avoid it indefinitely.   We may discover, too, that any weaknesses in our communication with family and friends become more apparent as we explore our options.  In particular, we and those affected by our decisions may begin to surface a lifetime of previously unspoken expectations.  We are concerned that discussions of these matters may cause long-term ruptures in relationships.   We know, however, that “not to decide is to decide” and we look for a positive, productive way to deal with these critical issues.