Life Care Planning FAQs

The phrase “life care planning services” may be unfamiliar to some. Yet, life care planning services are crucial for those who have suffered a disabling injury that could impact that person for life. Thus, if you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury that will have life-long consequences, then it makes sense to consider obtaining life care planning services. 

If you have never heard about life care planning services before, then read on. In this article, we will cover the basic questions that we at Occupational Assessment Services, Inc. frequently receive from those considering such services. We hope that this set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) will get you on the right path to obtaining the help you need even when dealing with a serious injury. 

If, after reviewing this article, you have additional questions about life care planning services for your own personal circumstances, we invite you to contact us at Occupational Assessment Services, Inc. – OAS.   

We are one of the most experienced employability and life care planning firms in the United States. To discuss your case, call us at   1-800-292-1919 , contact us at a location near you, or through our online form.

Who Provides Life Care Planning Services?

As you might expect, a person providing life care planning services is called a “ Life Care Planner. “ Life Care Planners are certified to provide life care planning services. Typically, people with a health- or medical-related background are able to obtain a Life Care Planner certification. Thus, Life Care Planners could have one of the following backgrounds:

1. Doctor
2. Psychologist
3. Nurse
4. Nurse Practitioner
5. Physical Therapist
6. Occuplational Therapist
7. Rehabilitation Counselor
8. Social Worker
9. Chiropractor

What Does a Life Care Planner Do?

A Life Care Planner evaluates all aspects of a patient to create a comprehensive life care plan. This plan should serve as a foundational document that will estimate and plan for future medical needs, therapies, medications, surgeries, equipment, etc. for someone’s long term care. The plan incorporates all of the patient’s existing medical data, as well as the cost of living in the patient’s geographic region so that the cost of medical devices, care, and procedures can be figured out ahead of time. 

In addition, a Life Care Planner is responsible for providing expert testimony in any court proceeding in which the patient’s injuries are at issue. Thus, a Life Care Planner not only creates a person’s life care plan but must be able to explain it to a judge and/or jury if there is any disability or personal injury litigation related to the patient’s injuries. 

What Does a Life Care Plan Look Like?

A life care plan is a fairly lengthy document that includes as much relevant information about an injured patient’s condition, and what care will cost into the future. That said, a life care plan has three basic sections to it, as follows:

1. The patient’s condition. This part discusses the patient’s physical and mental state currently, including the nature and extent of his or her injury.
2. The patient’s requirements. This part covers what types of care the patient needs, which can include medical devices required, any necessary procedures, and regular therapy sessions.
3. The patient’s costs. This part covers the financial demands due to the patient’s condition over the course of his or her lifetime. 

Who Hires Life Care Planner?

Life Care Planners have such a wealth of information about an injured patient that they necessarily become the “go-to” person for many others who work with, or on behalf of, the injured person. As noted, if a patient has a court case involving disability benefits or a personal injury matter related to their injuries, then both plaintiff and defense attorneys will hire a Life Care Planner to assist in the case. Particularly in disability proceedings, judges, or ALJs (administrative law judges) will directly hire a Life Care Planner to evaluate and provide testimony with regard to a person seeking disability benefits. 

Moreover, insurance adjusters and insurance companies seek out the services of Life Care Planners when a person’s injury will impact his or her insurance coverage. Finally, families of patients, patients themselves, and rehabilitation professionals will obtain the life care planning services of a Life Care Planner in order to get the best care possible for someone dealing with a life-long medical challenge.

A Life Care Planner’s counsel and expertise, given their certification and medical/health training, makes them invaluable in so many settings related to an injured person’s life. Whether it is a burn injury, auto accident injuries, birth injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal or neurological injuries, or other serious and catastrophic injuries, a Life Care Planner can do a great deal to make an injured person’s life easier to manage.   

OAS – Providing Life Care Planning Services for You and Your Family

The experts at Occupational Assessment Services, Inc. (OAS) have over forty years of experience documenting the income potential and employment capacity of those with wrongful termination cases, as well as with the underemployed, unemployed, and disabled spouses in many types of cases

OAS specializes in working with the plaintiff or defense attorney to assist in objectively documenting the economics in a case. From the initial referral to the trial testimony, OAS works with the retaining attorney so that the vocational assessment of the case can be objectively and efficiently presented. 

We strongly believe in the importance of a clear and understandable presentation of the facts. OAS is the leading provider of Vocational Expert and Life Care Planning Services for Plaintiff and Defense attorneys. 

The company specializes in assisting attorneys in evaluating earning capacity in divorce cases and documenting the damages in cases where an individual has been severely injured by providing objective findings on how the injuries affect a persons’ ability to work and earn money, as well as the cost of care required in catastrophic injuries.

OAS is your Vocational Expert & Life Care Planner Nationwide, with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Nevada, and California. 

Occupational Assessment Services, Inc. is one of the most experienced employability and life care planning firms in the United States. To discuss your case, call us at   1-800-292-1919 , contact us at a location near you, or through our online form.