575 S. Wickham Rd., Ste F, PMB 334, Melbourne, FL 32904
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Originally published: August 2021 | Updated: June 2026
Elder care mediation in Melbourne, FL, is a voluntary, confidential process in which adult children and family members resolve disputes over an elderly relative’s care — medical decisions, living arrangements, finances, and visitation — with a neutral mediator rather than pursuing guardianship litigation.
Sessions cost $350 per hour (2026 rate) with a two-hour minimum, and most elder care mediations resolve in two to four hours.
Kim W. Torres, Florida Bar member since 1985, has mediated 3,000+ disputes since 2000 and serves as an Eldercaring Coordinator in Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit pilot program for high-conflict elder care families.
Watching your family fight over your mother’s care while her needs go unaddressed? Kim Torres has mediated 3,000+ disputes since 2000, including elder care cases across Brevard County — schedule a free telephone consultation.
Elder care mediation with Kim costs $350 per hour. Virtual sessions carry a two-hour minimum; in-person sessions carry a three-hour minimum. Most elder care disputes — sibling disagreements over living arrangements, financial management conflicts, visitation schedules — resolve in a single session of two to four hours for a total cost of $700–$1,400.
| Service | Cost (2026) |
| Elder care mediation session (virtual) | $350/hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Elder care mediation session (in-person) | $350/hour, 3-hour minimum |
| Eldercaring Coordination (court-appointed) | Contact for rate structure |
| Preparation of a written elder care agreement | $700 flat |
Kim accepts cash, check, credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle. Fees are typically split among participating family members unless another arrangement is agreed upon.
Guardianship litigation in Florida routinely costs $5,000–$15,000+ in attorney fees and takes months to resolve — and the result is a judge making decisions about your parent’s care instead of your family. Elder care mediation puts those decisions back in the family’s hands.
Elder care mediation covers every dispute that arises when adult children and family members disagree about a senior relative’s needs. Kim mediates the following regularly across Brevard, Orange, Seminole, and Indian River Counties:
An Eldercaring Coordinator is a court-appointed neutral who helps high-conflict families make ongoing decisions about an elderly relative’s care over a two-year term. Eldercaring Coordination is not the same as elder care mediation — the two serve different families at different levels of conflict.
Elder care mediation is voluntary. Either party can initiate contact, and the process ends when the family reaches an agreement or decides to stop. Eldercaring Coordination is court-ordered under Florida Statute §44.407 and focuses specifically on the health, autonomy, and safety of the elder over an extended period.
| Factor | Elder Care Mediation | Eldercaring Coordination |
| How it starts | Voluntary — family contacts Kim directly | Court-ordered under FL §44.407 |
| Duration | Single session (2–4 hours typical) | Up to a two-year term |
| Conflict level | Low to moderate family disagreement | High-conflict, recurring disputes |
| Focus | Specific issue resolution | Ongoing elder welfare monitoring |
| Who decides | Family members | Family members with coordinator guidance |
| Confidentiality | Yes — FL §44.405 | Governed by court order terms |
Kim serves as an Eldercaring Coordinator in the 18th Judicial Circuit pilot program. She completed the approved Eldercaring Coordination training program that incorporates elder mediation training, holds Florida Supreme Court Family mediation certification, and has three years of postlicensure practice — all requirements under §44.407.
She has presented on Eldercaring Coordination at the Florida State Guardianship Association conference and the Florida Dispute Resolution Center’s annual conference, and serves on the board of the Space Coast Guardianship Association.
Mediation requires every participating family member to attend voluntarily and negotiate in good faith. The process does not fit every elder care dispute.
Elder care mediation is not recommended when the elder is in immediate danger and requires emergency intervention from Adult Protective Services or law enforcement, when a family member refuses to participate, or when cognitive impairment is so severe that the elder cannot express any preferences (though the elder does not need to attend — family members can mediate on the elder’s behalf when appropriate).
Kim will tell you during the free telephone consultation whether mediation, Eldercaring Coordination, or a referral to another resource is the best fit for your family’s situation. She does not proceed when the conditions for a productive conversation are not present.
Unsure whether your family needs voluntary mediation, a court-appointed Eldercaring Coordinator, or guardianship counsel? Kim Torres offers a free telephone consultation to assess which path fits — call (321) 821-9995.
Kim opens every elder care session with a joint conversation — all participating family members in the same room or on the same Zoom call — to establish ground rules and hear each person’s concerns about the elder’s care.
She then identifies the specific decisions the family needs to make: where the elder will live, who will manage finances, how care tasks will be divided, and which medical decisions need to be addressed.
When siblings disagree, or emotions escalate, Kim moves to a caucus — a private conversation with each family member separately — to explore concerns that the other party is not ready to hear.
Nothing shared in caucus returns to the group without permission, and all mediation communications remain confidential under Florida Statute §44.405.
When the family reaches an agreement, Kim prepares a written elder care plan documenting every decision — caregiving schedules, financial arrangements, medical decision-making authority, and visitation terms. Either party may have an elder law attorney review the agreement before signing.
The elder does not have to attend the session if health or cognitive limitations make participation difficult. Kim has facilitated sessions in which the elder participates by phone for part of the conversation, and family members negotiate the remaining terms among themselves.
If you represent a client in a guardianship dispute, probate conflict, or family disagreement over elder care, mediation can resolve the dispute before litigation consumes your client’s resources — and the elder’s assets.
For voluntary elder care mediation, contact Kim directly at (321) 821-9995 or via the contact page. She schedules sessions within one to three days through her assistant, Morgan, or via the NADN calendar. You and opposing counsel can attend the session with your clients, or the parties can mediate without attorneys present.
For Eldercaring Coordination — the referring court issues an order under Florida Statute §44.407 appointing the coordinator. Kim is qualified to accept appointments in the 18th Judicial Circuit (Brevard and Seminole Counties). If you are petitioning for Eldercaring Coordination, contact Kim’s office to confirm availability before filing.
Kim’s qualifications for attorney reference: Florida Bar member since 1985, Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, approved Eldercaring Coordination training, 3,000+ mediations since 2000, Chair of the Florida Bar ADR Section 2019–20, Diplomate Member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals since 2008.
How much does elder care mediation cost in Brevard County?
Kim charges $350 per hour (2026 rate), with a two-hour minimum for virtual sessions and a three-hour minimum for in-person sessions. Most elder care disputes resolve in two to four hours for a total of $700–$1,400, typically split among participating family members.
What is the difference between elder care mediation and Eldercaring Coordination?
Elder care mediation is voluntary and resolves a specific dispute in one session. Eldercaring Coordination is court-ordered under Florida Statute §44.407, lasts up to two years, and addresses recurring conflicts in high-conflict families focused on an elder’s health and safety.
Does the elderly family member have to attend the mediation session?
No. The elder can participate by phone, by Zoom, or not at all if health or cognitive limitations make attendance difficult. Family members can mediate caregiving, financial, and living-arrangement decisions among themselves, with Kim facilitating the conversation.
Can elder care mediation prevent the need for guardianship?
In many cases, yes. Mediation helps families identify specific areas where the elder needs assistance and delegate tasks among family members — without a court appointing a guardian. Kim guides families through this assessment during the session.
Is elder care mediation confidential in Florida?
Yes. Florida Statute §44.405 protects all mediation communications. Nothing said during the session can be used as evidence in court. Eldercaring Coordination confidentiality is governed by the terms of the appointing court order rather than the general mediation statute.
What qualifications does Kim Torres hold for Eldercaring Coordination?
Kim has been a Florida Bar member since 1985, holds Florida Supreme Court Family mediation certification, completed three years of postlicensure practice, completed the approved Eldercaring Coordination training program, and passed the required criminal background check — all requirements under Florida Statute §44.407.
Can an attorney refer a client for elder care mediation?
Yes. Attorneys representing clients in guardianship disputes, probate conflicts, or elder care disagreements can refer families directly. Kim schedules sessions within one to three days. Counsel can attend the session or have clients mediate without attorneys present.
How long does elder care mediation take?
Most elder care mediations resolve in a single session of two to four hours. Complex disputes involving multiple siblings, contested estates, and disagreements over financial management may require four to six hours over one or two sessions. The full process runs significantly faster than guardianship litigation.
Your family has been arguing about your father’s care for months, and his needs are not being met while the conflict continues. Kim Torres has mediated 3,000+ disputes since 2000 — because you own the resolution, not a judge. Schedule your free telephone consultation.
Kim W. Torres, Esq. is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator in Circuit Civil, Family, County Court, and Appellate matters and a member of The Florida Bar since 1985. Practicing exclusively as a mediator since 2000, she has resolved more than 2,000 cases — from complex multi-party disputes to high-emotion matters with self-represented parties. A past Chair of the Florida Bar’s ADR Section and Brevard County’s Circuit Civil Mediator of the Year, Kim mediates throughout Florida, in person and virtually.