The Benefits of Having a Life Care Plan
The primary mission of having a life care plan is to bring peace of mind to a family member or loved one through the creation of a long-term plan. The plan may include the following:
- A trust
- A will
- Establishment of a guardian
- Assistance with medical services and insurances
- Guidance for the family
Through careful planning, families can rest assured in knowing that their loved ones will be taken care of and maintain a good quality of life in the future when they are no longer able to care for themselves.
Without a crystal ball, there is no way to predict the future in terms of medical needs for a loved one. A life care plan is a conservative approach to project the future medical costs, both goods, and services, of a family member. Aging parents or impaired individuals can benefit from an assessment from a life care planner and setting up the plan.
Proactive treatment may be addressed in the plan to assist in the prevention of medical complications and disabilities. An interview with a licensed life care planner helps to establish the assessment and overview of the patient’s needs and proactive treatment may be addressed. Both the impaired or elderly individual and family members should be present for the assessment. Most life care plans go beyond the medical and projected healthcare of the individual. Financial services can also be addressed. With aging parents or impaired loved ones come increased expenses. A life care plan can guide family members on the projected expenses of medical care, prescriptions, and rehabilitation and therapy. Non-medical issues can also be addressed such as vehicle adaptations and/or home modifications.
A care manager can assist with the projected costs of durable goods and services. The life care planner for an aging individual may review the patient’s medical records, interview the on-staff elder caregiver, gather information from children and loved ones, and organize health care recommendations from the doctors. Through careful assessment the life care plan is created, becoming the core of the individual’s case management.
Once the financials are complete on the care plan, the assessment may be sent to an economist to determine projected costs over the patient’s life expectancy. The economist may take into consideration the individual’s geographic location as well as the rate of inflation. A thorough examination can be made to better assist the family with financial details and the cost of care. A life care plan brings peace of mind to the individuals closest to the patient while promoting good and long health for the person affected by life’s aging process. Independence is always encouraged as long as the patient is able. When the person is no longer deemed self-sufficient the life care plan removes the burden of independence and implements the support system already put in place. In the event of a loss of family member support, the plan remains intact and provides peace of mind that the individual will still be taken care of.
