What is a Life Care Plan?
A Life Care Plan is a highly structured and specific plan intended to coordinate a patient’s future care, which may span years or even a lifetime, for individuals with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or catastrophic injuries. It is a formulated plan that describes current and future medical needs and treatment, as well as the personal care an individual is likely to need with the aim of enhancing his/her standard of living in the future. Created by professionals who work in the sphere of life care planning, it is focused on the contributions of a variety of caretakers, such as doctors, therapists, and social workers, to consider all aspects of the individual’s needs. It covers potential future medical care, prospects for treatment or a cure, equipment, home adaptations, and all other usable products and services, and factors involving money and organization. The proposed life care plan is an individualized, outcomes-based approach to guide the treatment and management of a client and his/her family because the definition of long-term care is vast and accompanied by many challenges.
Who needs a Life Care Plan?
- Individuals with Catastrophic Injuries: Those who have sustained severe injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, burns or spinal cord injury, often require extensive, long-term care.
- Chronic Illness Patients: Individuals with long-term health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, benefit from structured planning to manage their ongoing care.
- Elderly Individuals: Seniors facing age-related health issues may need a life care plan to address their evolving medical and support needs.
- Individuals with Disabilities: People with physical or developmental disabilities may require tailored support and resources to enhance their quality of life.
- Families and Caregivers: Understanding the long-term implications of caring for a loved one can help families plan for future needs and ensure adequate resources are available.
Process of Life Care Planning
We at PMR Life Care take the process of devising a life care plan for our clients very seriously. Our methodology involves several important steps. To ensure that, we at PMR Life Care Planner devise a valid and accurate life care plan encompassing all of our client’s needs.
Here’s how we approach the process to ensure every detail is covered:
Case Intake: We begin by gathering essential referral information from the source. This includes discussing timelines, confirming any retainer fees, and arranging for the release of necessary information to streamline the process.
Medical Records: Our team requests a complete medical record review and summary, including nurses’ notes, doctors’ orders, ambulance reports, emergency room records, and any consultants’ reports, along with admission and discharge summaries, lab results, and imaging studies.
Supporting Documentation: We look for valuable supporting materials that can enhance the plan, such as depositions from the client, family, or treatment team. We may also include day-in-the-life videos and, if applicable, gather school records, vocational documentation, and tax returns to address any vocational issues.
Initial Interview Arrangements: We typically conduct the initial interview at the client’s residence (if possible) to create a comfortable environment. We ensure that key family members—like spouses, parents, or siblings—can attend (if possible) and allocate 3 to 5 hours for this crucial discussion
Initial Interview Materials: Our team comes prepared with all necessary forms for the interview, including supplemental forms for specific conditions like pediatric needs or traumatic brain injuries. We also bring a life care plan checklist, sample plans for reference, and recording equipment to document the living situation and necessary supplies.
Consulting with the Therapeutic Team: We actively engage with relevant health professional team members (if possible ) to gather their insights and treatment recommendations, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the client’s needs.
Preparing Preliminary Life Care Plan Opinions: We collect detailed information to calculate future medical care costs, including the frequency and duration of services, base costs, and reliable sources for this information.
Filling in the Gaps: If additional medical evaluations are needed, we identify those requirements and seek approval to engage additional professionals. We draft clear letters outlining the questions necessary to gather the needed information.
Researching Costs and Sources: Our team contacts local providers to obtain medical cost estimates for treatments, medications, supplies, and equipment. For pediatric cases, we explore services that may be partially covered by the school system.
Finalizing the Life Care Plan: We review our medical cost projections with the client and their family, as well as treatment team members, to ensure accuracy and alignment. If an economist is involved, we coordinate with him to project costs based on the finalized plan.
At PMR Life Care Planner, our expert life care experts are committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families from diverse groups who are navigating complex healthcare. We achieve this by following a consistent methodology to devise thorough, accurate, and personalized life care plans to the highest standards.
Discover how a life care planner near you can assist individuals and their families in preparing for financial and medical challenges.
