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A Brief Overview Of Life Care Planning

By Raymond Foster


When it comes to caring for the elderly, sick and disabled, it is often a challenge. A new program aimed at helping individuals manage life with a catastrophic illness, injury or disability is now available. Life care planning, somewhat of a medical life coaching program is now making it easier for these individuals to manage every day life, ongoing medical care and treatment and better understand what may be needed in the future.

In this program, disabled individuals work with professionals to first establish an overall medical evaluation and profile. While the evaluation focuses on past and present medical needs, the profile also includes perspective medical needs, equipment, services and treatments which might also be necessary in the future.

Whether suffering one, or multiple disabilities, clients often work with more than one professional. Working with different providers is often common when it comes to these life based care programs. Whether due to age, changes in lifestyle, ill-health, or the resignation or retirement of a professional, there can be a number of different reasons for these changes over time.

Individuals with disabilities can often benefit a great deal from these type programs. Along with managing current issues and preventing potential problems, professionals often incorporate family and friends into the process. In doing so, clients have a network of support which includes emotional, medical and physical support on an ongoing basis.

Medical visits, physical therapy and occasional psychological counseling often go hand in hand with a disability. Use of these type programs can help clients better manage office visits, stay in shape and manage other areas of care over time. Professionals often review client evaluations, provide reports and recommend future treatment based on past results along with current research. While rare, there are some disabilities which can be overcome based on ongoing or future research.

While elements of the program are often consistent between clients, each has a different and specific need. As such, most programs are individualized to the needs of each client and family. During enrollment, a plan is devised for current and future treatment. Whether due to aging, or complex complications, clients with a catastrophic disability are most likely going to need continued ongoing care in different areas.

Developing an evaluation based on current health trends and medical needs, and establishing a profile for future needs is an essential part of the process. A good example of what might be needed in the future as a client ages are food delivery and transportation, wheelchairs and other medical equipment and services. Research is also an essential part of the process as some relevant research has been known to help individuals overcome, or, at least lessen the effects of a disability over time.

While some individuals find these programs comforting, others find that focusing on the present is better than planning for the future. Whereas, in some cases knowing what to expect can often help one better understand and prepare for changes which have been known to happen to others with similar disabilities. Regardless, it is up to each individual to decide for oneself or a family member as to what type medical care and planning is right at each moment in time.




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