What is a Life Care Plan?

Life Care Planning is a new approach to the challenges of life, disability and the healthcare system.

Law firms that practice this unique, client-centered specialty of elder law are called Life Care Planning Law Firms. As a Life Care Planning Law Firm, Senior Law Solutions, LLC (SLS) works as an interdisciplinary team to identify present and potential care needs, assist in locating appropriate care, and financial choices regarding care.

What is a Life Care Plan?

A Life Care Plan defines, organizes, prioritizes, and mobilizes every aspect of care. In addition to traditional asset-focused services that help assist for public benefits, a Life Care Plan typically includes provisions for care advisors and other forms of family support.

The goal of Life Care Planning is to promote and maintain the health, safety, well-being, and quality of life of individuals. Every Life Care Plan is designed to achieve three primary objectives:

1. Help prioritize appropriate care, whether at home or in a residential facility, to maintain the quality of life that he or she desires
2. Assist in locating public and private sources to help pay for long-term care while resolving issues created by the high cost of care
3. Offer peace of mind that results when the best choices are made to ensure loved ones are safe and getting the right care.

What services does a Life Care Plan include?

Each Life Care Plan is customized to meet the needs of the individual and family involved. Most Life Care Plans will include one or more of the following services:

The legal issues created by aging, illness, chronic conditions or disability can be terrifying. That’s why every Life Care Plan includes a customized mix of legal services designed to support the loved one’s goals. Your Life Care Plan may include elder care law, special needs law, estate planning and advocacy services that are appropriate for your loved one’s circumstances. You and your family can relax knowing that you are surrounded with support from professionals who have assisted others similarly situated.

Many families need assistance identifying care options for the current situation and as the individual’s condition progresses. That’s why care advisor services are part of nearly every Life Care Plan we develop.

Individuals have a right to safe, effective, and patient-centered health care and long-term care. Our Firm works together to provide advocacy services that empower family caregivers and protect quality of life for individuals.

Life Care Plan includes support with Medicare and insurance matters.

When is the right time to create a Life Care Plan?

The right time is immediately after any event that leaves you concerned about your loved one’s future. Trigger events like the ones listed below signal that a person’s condition is deteriorating even though it could be months or years before long-term care outside the home is needed.

• Burnout of the loved one’s primary caregiver
• A diagnosis of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, or other chronic condition
• A catastrophic event such as a fall, medication mishap, fire, accident in the home or a car wreck
• Discovering that your loved one is wandering, malnourished, dehydrated or unable to care for him/herself due to functional limitations
• A medical event such as a stroke, heart attack or aneurism

You could wait until the someone needs immediate nursing home care to develop a Life Care Plan. However, the delay puts you, your family, and your loved one at a distinct disadvantage. That’s why Life Care Planning is so valuable. A Life Care Plan benefits you and your family in several important ways, before a crisis arises:

• It helps get your loved one the care he or she needs today, which offers welcome relief for caregivers.
• It plugs you into our network of community services and resources.
• It increases the chances that your loved one can age at home, which helps preserve independence and dignity.
• Advises you on organizing your legal and financial affairs.
• It empowers you with a network of support that will help you deal with legal, health care and long-term care transition that your loved one will face for the rest of his or her life.

Contact us to learn more how a Life Plan can benefit you and your loved one.

Who is a good candidate for a Life Care Plan?

A Life Care Plan is appropriate for:

• Individuals who are dealing with the effects of aging, chronic illnesses like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke or dementia, or disability due to accident or illness
• Cognitively, emotionally or developmentally disabled individuals of any age
• Individuals of any age who have been permanently disabled due to accident or illness
• Individuals who do not have as much family support and/or family support is out of town.

What are the benefits?

• Families who are stretched trying to assist their loved ones and meet their own demands in life.
• Focused on getting the right care sooner, as much independence as possible for as long as possible, and the ability to age with dignity.
• Assist families in finding appropriate care and services, guidance with legal, health care, and long-term care decisions as the condition progresses.
• Whether you live across the street or across the country, a Life Care Plan offers an opportunity to engage professionals to partner with you in understanding your options.