Life Care Planning - The Key to Finding and Paying for Care

Article submitted by Osterhout, McKinney & Prather, P.A. They can be reached at 239-939-4888 or visit their website www.omplaw.com.

We are living longer and healthier lives, with more options available for our care when illness or an unexpected fall happens or just frailty of age necessitates help. There is a maze of home care services, retirement homes, adult family homes, assisted living, specialized dementia care and skilled nursing facilities.

How do you know what is right for you and how do you pay for it?

Life Care Planning is a new specialty of Elder Law that helps people find and pay for quality care. Life Care Planning transcends the typical client/ attorney consultative relationship to a comprehensive team approach to client needs. The team consists of an Elder Law Attorney, Life Care Coordinator and legal assistants knowledgeable in the areas of estate planning, public benefits and Medicaid.

The Elder Law Attorney is uniquely qualified to assist clients in negotiating the complex system of public benefits, estate and trust planning, Medicaid/Medicare benefits, tax law, probate and patient rights.

The Life Care Coordinator has special training in aging and is a resource specialist that assists clients with finding the right type of care to meet their needs within their expressed goals.

The first step in Life Care Planning is a consultation between the client, Elder law Attorney and Life Care Coordinator, to establish goals, determine the client's ability to pay for care needs and assess their legal needs, such as power of attorney, living will, estate planning documents and trusts.

The second step is a visit from the Life Care Coordinator to the client to conduct a comprehensive gerontological assessment that identifies immediate care needs and important considerations for future planning.

The third step is providing a plan for the client on how to provide for care for life within the client's current income and resource limitations. The Life Care Plan includes; 1. Specific quality recommendations for care needs, i.e, home health services, adult day care, homemaker, assisted living and nursing home services are just a few. 2. Concrete legal strategies to qualify for benefits to pay for care and protect assets. 3. All legal documents necessary to ensure that the client wishes are met regarding healthcare, finances, and distribution of assets when the time comes.

Life Care Planning services particularly benefit a senior with a health condition that has the potential to impact their ability to care for themselves. The goal is to maximize resources to provide the best care possible. Caregivers also benefit from the support offered by the Life Care Coordinator in finding and securing quality care and having a knowledgeable person to turn to when problems arise. Families have peace of mind knowing that professional, expert advice is a phone call away.

The goal of Life Care Planning is to reduce the financial burden of an illness while finding and ensuring appropriate care is provided. The plan is reviewed annually and the Life Care Coordinator visits the client at least semiannually to see that client needs are being met. Services are provided for the client's life.

For more information on Life Care Planning or other legal services or to schedule an appointment, please call 239-939-4888. You may also visit our website www.omplaw.com. The hiring of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.