Special Needs Planning

What is Life Care Planning?

A Life Care Plan defines, organizes, prioritizes, and mobilizes every aspect of an elder's care. In addition to traditional asset-focused elder law services that help elders qualify for public benefits while preserving family wealth to the greatest extent possible, a Life Care Plan typically includes provisions for care coordination 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 elders. Every Life Care Plan is designed to achieve three primary objectives:

Make sure the elder gets appropriate care, whether at home or in a residential facility, to maintain the quality of life that he or she desires
Locate public and private sources to help pay for long-term care while resolving issues created by the high cost of care
Offer peace of mind that results when the right choices are made to ensure loved ones are safe and getting the right care while preserving family resources

A/Z Wilson uses a model called the Elder Care Continuum to help families understand the natural progression of aging and its impact on a loved one's health, mobility, housing, and financial resources. An initial meeting with A/Z Wilson may focus on the elderly loved one's place on each line of the Elder Care Continuum. Gaps in care can then be identified and solutions discussed for closing those gaps.

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.

A diagnosis of cancer, Alzheimer's disease 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

Burnout of the loved one's primary caregiver

You could wait until the elder 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 pre-crisis Life Care Planning is so valuable. A Pre-Crisis Life Care Plan benefits you and your family in several important ways:

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.
It puts all your legal and financial affairs in order.
It enables your family to avoid the asset protection crisis when your loved one makes the transition to long-term care outside the home.
It empowers you with a network of support that will help you deal with every legal, health care and long-term care transition that your elder will face for the rest of his or her life.

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

HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY

Elders have a legal right to safe, effective, and patient-centered health care and long-term care. A Life Care Plan protects those rights. Our certified Elder Law Attorneys and elder care coordinators work together to provide advocacy services that empower family caregivers and protect quality of life for elders.

CARE COORDINATION

LEGAL SERVICES

MEDICARE & INSURANCE SUPPORT

Medical bills, EOBs, and insurance forms can be intimidating. Every Life Care Plan includes support with Medicare and insurance matters delivered by our in-house expert.

What are the Benefits?

The elderly or disabled loved one gets the right care sooner, as much independence as possible for as long as possible, and the ability to age with dignity.
Families get help finding the right care and services, guidance with legal, health care, and long-term care decisions as the elder's condition progresses, and security because the spouse and dependents are provided for.
Whether you live across the street or across the country, a Life Care Plan offers welcome reassurance that your loved one will enjoy the best possible quality of life until the end of life.

What are the Benefits?

Elderly 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