Life Care Planning
Life Care Planning is a process used to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan for individuals who have experienced a serious injury or have chronic health conditions. The goal is to outline the current and future medical, personal, and supportive care needs of the individual, often for the rest of their life.
Below is a breakdown of what Life Care Planning involves.
Life Care Planning is a detailed document or plan that identifies:
Medical Treatments & Interventions
Rehabilitation Needs
Home or Facility-Based Care
Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
Medications
Transportation Needs
Educational/Vocational Support
Projected Costs
Who Uses Life Care Planning?
- Personal injury attorneys (especially in litigation involving catastrophic injury)
- Insurance companies
- Health care providers
- Case managers
- Families and caregivers
- Courts (to determine damages in a legal case)
Who Creates a Life Care Plan?
A Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP) or Rehabilitation Professional typically creates the plan.
This professional often has a background in nursing, rehabilitation, case management, or similar fields and understands medical treatment protocols, cost projection, and the impact of injury/disability.
When is a Life Care Plan Used?
- After a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, or severe burns
- In medical malpractice, worker’s compensation, or motor vehicle accident cases
- For children with congenital disabilities needing long-term care
- To quantify economic damages in legal claims
Why is a Life Care Plan Important?
- It provides a roadmap for the individual’s care
- It helps calculate economic damages in lawsuits
- It ensures the injured party receives appropriate support
- It informs settlement negotiations or trial testimony
