When we are young and healthy, a life care plan is often the last thing on our minds. But by addressing issues that could crop up later in life, you can minimize the likelihood that a catastrophic event will derail all your plans.
What is a Life Care Plan?
A life care plan helps families respond to the challenges presented by the chronic illness or disability of an elderly loved one. It is a planning process that changes over time as circumstances change. An effective life care plan should provide a road map that allows you to achieve your quality of life, care, and long-term care financing goals.
Developing a Life Care Plan
A life care plan defines, organizes, prioritizes, and mobilizes all aspects of an elder’s care. In order to develop a successful life care plan, you and your family must have an understanding of your:
- Diagnoses
- Medical treatment
- Estimated costs of treatment and services
- Factors that might affect the outcome of care
- Psychosocial implications
- Ongoing health care and long-term care needs
You will also need to be knowledgeable about community resources, public benefits, and eligibility for these resources, and be able to identify and develop alternatives for care that are consistent with the needs of the patient as well as the family.
The Attorney’s Role in a Life Care Plan
An attorney can successfully customize your life care plan to fit your needs and desires by helping you answer some of the following questions:
- What health care, chronic care, and long-term care services are available to me?
- How will financial and health care decisions be made for me if I cannot make them for myself?
- If there is a health care crisis, where will we go to get the help we need?
- What public benefits am I entitled to, and what do I need to do to qualify for them?
- What kinds of insurance do I need?
- How and when should I distribute my assets?
- How can I protect my assets to take care of my spouse, ensure that I am cared for, or leave to my children?
- How do I provide for family members with special needs?
Your concerns, circumstances, and the various factors will shape your decisions as you formulate a life care plan for yourself or your family. If you need help creating a plan tailored to your needs, contact a business lawyer at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys online, or call 701-235-8000 or 877-235-8002 (toll-free) today.
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