Wednesday 9 December 2015

Life Care Planning And The Benefits

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.

First, the client provides an overall evaluation of the client based on past and present medical history. After which, intensive consideration is given to the needs of the client and family based on the severity of disability in the present and future expectations. When clients have multiple disabilities, different plans are often required for each issue.

The process incorporates a number of practices, principles, published standards, tenets and methodologies similar to life coaching. Past, present and future medical concerns are first and foremost for professionals working in this area. Life care, much like life coaching, incorporates a number of areas such as family perspective, providers, guidelines and relevant research to assure the best possible results for each client.

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.

Each individual or family member must decide whether this type program might be beneficial whether now or in the future. Disabled individuals living alone often benefit the most from these type long term planning situations. Whereas, even those living with limited disability can also benefit in knowing what might be in store for the future based on past and present research.




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