Discussion: View Thread

I was asked yesterday by a lawyer when an individual with paraplegia would be ready for me to start a comprehensive life care plan? I mulled this over a bit, and thought that rehab would be largely completed by 12 months, their condition is permanent, and one might get an idea of any complications (UTIs, shoulder issues, etc) which might have surfaced by then....But they might need some vocational counseling and retraining; what about housing renovations with no $$ (can one presume this will be done), after all isn't the LCP a guide. So I'm thinking 12 months to 18 months to start a life care plan? Although, often with other conditions: e.g. orthopedic injuries, one often has to wait for two years to get a better picture of long term consequences. I would really appreciate and look forward to your thoughts on this matter.


-------------------------------------------
Janet Smith
Occupational Therapy Consultant
Certified Canadian Life Care Planner
jlsmithOT@shaw.ca
Edmonton, AB Canada
-------------------------------------------

A life care plan is a fluid document and can be updated... perhaps the lawyer is really asking when can a quasi "final" product for settlement be produced... I think a comprehensive LCCA should be in place asap ..being developed pre-dicharge...

-------------------------------------------
Clae Willis
clae@bellnet.ca
Hamilton, ON Canada
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2014 10:59
From: Janet Smith
Subject: When to start a Life Care Plan for Individual with Paraplegia

I was asked yesterday by a lawyer when an individual with paraplegia would be ready for me to start a comprehensive life care plan? I mulled this over a bit, and thought that rehab would be largely completed by 12 months, their condition is permanent, and one might get an idea of any complications (UTIs, shoulder issues, etc) which might have surfaced by then....But they might need some vocational counseling and retraining; what about housing renovations with no $$ (can one presume this will be done), after all isn't the LCP a guide. So I'm thinking 12 months to 18 months to start a life care plan? Although, often with other conditions: e.g. orthopedic injuries, one often has to wait for two years to get a better picture of long term consequences. I would really appreciate and look forward to your thoughts on this matter.


-------------------------------------------
Janet Smith
Occupational Therapy Consultant
Certified Canadian Life Care Planner
jlsmithOT@shaw.ca
Edmonton, AB Canada
-------------------------------------------

Obviously they will have short term and long term care needs and would need immediate funding for these short term items such as home modifications and mobility devices. I would think that you could get started with the preliminary needs but I typically get a life care plan referral closer to 12 months or so after the injury.  This is because the patient may have improvement and an incomplete injury may present completely different in one year.

-------------------------------------------
Alison Walmsley, OTR/L, CHT, CLCP
awalmsley3@comcast.net
Savannah, GA United States
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2014 19:22
From: Janet Smith
Subject: When to start a Life Care Plan for Individual with Paraplegia

I was asked yesterday by a lawyer when an individual with paraplegia would be ready for me to start a comprehensive life care plan? I mulled this over a bit, and thought that rehab would be largely completed by 12 months, their condition is permanent, and one might get an idea of any complications (UTIs, shoulder issues, etc) which might have surfaced by then....But they might need some vocational counseling and retraining; what about housing renovations with no $$ (can one presume this will be done), after all isn't the LCP a guide. So I'm thinking 12 months to 18 months to start a life care plan? Although, often with other conditions: e.g. orthopedic injuries, one often has to wait for two years to get a better picture of long term consequences. I would really appreciate and look forward to your thoughts on this matter.


-------------------------------------------
Janet Smith
Occupational Therapy Consultant
Certified Canadian Life Care Planner
jlsmithOT@shaw.ca
Edmonton, AB Canada
-------------------------------------------

It might be helpful to know if the client is a child or adult.

Developing short term vs long term items (and needs)  is important in pediatric (infants, children, youths) cases pending their developmental/ learning stage which may or may not commensurate with their chronological age. It is my opinion that 12 months after an injury for peds is too long for immediate and short term need/items and too early for establishing long term needs/items.
-------------------------------------------
Maria Scaringi
Speech-Language Pathologist, Life Care Planner, Case Management
maria@kidspeech.ca
Toronto, ON Canada
-------------------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2014 19:47
From: Alison Walmsley
Subject: When to start a Life Care Plan for Individual with Paraplegia

Obviously they will have short term and long term care needs and would need immediate funding for these short term items such as home modifications and mobility devices. I would think that you could get started with the preliminary needs but I typically get a life care plan referral closer to 12 months or so after the injury.  This is because the patient may have improvement and an incomplete injury may present completely different in one year.

-------------------------------------------
Alison Walmsley, OTR/L, CHT, CLCP
awalmsley3@comcast.net
Savannah, GA United States
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2014 19:22
From: Janet Smith
Subject: When to start a Life Care Plan for Individual with Paraplegia

I was asked yesterday by a lawyer when an individual with paraplegia would be ready for me to start a comprehensive life care plan? I mulled this over a bit, and thought that rehab would be largely completed by 12 months, their condition is permanent, and one might get an idea of any complications (UTIs, shoulder issues, etc) which might have surfaced by then....But they might need some vocational counseling and retraining; what about housing renovations with no $$ (can one presume this will be done), after all isn't the LCP a guide. So I'm thinking 12 months to 18 months to start a life care plan? Although, often with other conditions: e.g. orthopedic injuries, one often has to wait for two years to get a better picture of long term consequences. I would really appreciate and look forward to your thoughts on this matter.


-------------------------------------------
Janet Smith
Occupational Therapy Consultant
Certified Canadian Life Care Planner
jlsmithOT@shaw.ca
Edmonton, AB Canada
-------------------------------------------

I respectfully disagree.  The sooner the better; the LCP is a guide / pathway to lifelong planning for outcomes so why not start early and do planning and collaboration with the treatment / rehab staff early?  The LCP can always be easily amended as the client progresses through the rehab process.  I prefer not to receive the referrals as an afterthought or solely for settlement purposes.

-------------------------------------------
Larry Rechlin
CLCP, DPT
rechlila@comcast.net
Naples, FL United States
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2014 20:57
From: Janet Smith
Subject: When to start a Life Care Plan for Individual with Paraplegia

I was asked yesterday by a lawyer when an individual with paraplegia would be ready for me to start a comprehensive life care plan? I mulled this over a bit, and thought that rehab would be largely completed by 12 months, their condition is permanent, and one might get an idea of any complications (UTIs, shoulder issues, etc) which might have surfaced by then....But they might need some vocational counseling and retraining; what about housing renovations with no $$ (can one presume this will be done), after all isn't the LCP a guide. So I'm thinking 12 months to 18 months to start a life care plan? Although, often with other conditions: e.g. orthopedic injuries, one often has to wait for two years to get a better picture of long term consequences. I would really appreciate and look forward to your thoughts on this matter.


-------------------------------------------
Janet Smith
Occupational Therapy Consultant
Certified Canadian Life Care Planner
jlsmithOT@shaw.ca
Edmonton, AB Canada
-------------------------------------------

I have to agree with Larry that the plan should begin as soon as possible. Given that it is a fluid document, there is information that you can currently gather that can drive the process. My opinion is that the plan should begin as soon as there is a permanent disability identified. Life post-disabling condition starts at that moment. 


-------------------------------------------
Philip Young
philyoungmacrc@gmail.com
Dallas, TX United States
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2014 12:11
From: Janet Smith
Subject: When to start a Life Care Plan for Individual with Paraplegia

I was asked yesterday by a lawyer when an individual with paraplegia would be ready for me to start a comprehensive life care plan? I mulled this over a bit, and thought that rehab would be largely completed by 12 months, their condition is permanent, and one might get an idea of any complications (UTIs, shoulder issues, etc) which might have surfaced by then....But they might need some vocational counseling and retraining; what about housing renovations with no $$ (can one presume this will be done), after all isn't the LCP a guide. So I'm thinking 12 months to 18 months to start a life care plan? Although, often with other conditions: e.g. orthopedic injuries, one often has to wait for two years to get a better picture of long term consequences. I would really appreciate and look forward to your thoughts on this matter.


-------------------------------------------
Janet Smith
Occupational Therapy Consultant
Certified Canadian Life Care Planner
jlsmithOT@shaw.ca
Edmonton, AB Canada
-------------------------------------------

Depending upon the legal challenges you may need to start earlier.  The physiatrist, orthopedic physician can still answer the questions as probably.  You can also add an addendum later if the outcome is different than what the physician projects.  I also write in my reports that this is a preliminary report, because things can change right on up to the court room steps. 

-------------------------------------------
Ronald Smolarski
Director
ron@beaconrehab.com
Ann Arbor, MI United States
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2014 12:52
From: Philip Young
Subject: When to start a Life Care Plan for Individual with Paraplegia

I have to agree with Larry that the plan should begin as soon as possible. Given that it is a fluid document, there is information that you can currently gather that can drive the process. My opinion is that the plan should begin as soon as there is a permanent disability identified. Life post-disabling condition starts at that moment. 


-------------------------------------------
Philip Young
philyoungmacrc@gmail.com
Dallas, TX United States
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 02-12-2014 12:11
From: Janet Smith
Subject: When to start a Life Care Plan for Individual with Paraplegia

I was asked yesterday by a lawyer when an individual with paraplegia would be ready for me to start a comprehensive life care plan? I mulled this over a bit, and thought that rehab would be largely completed by 12 months, their condition is permanent, and one might get an idea of any complications (UTIs, shoulder issues, etc) which might have surfaced by then....But they might need some vocational counseling and retraining; what about housing renovations with no $$ (can one presume this will be done), after all isn't the LCP a guide. So I'm thinking 12 months to 18 months to start a life care plan? Although, often with other conditions: e.g. orthopedic injuries, one often has to wait for two years to get a better picture of long term consequences. I would really appreciate and look forward to your thoughts on this matter.


-------------------------------------------
Janet Smith
Occupational Therapy Consultant
Certified Canadian Life Care Planner
jlsmithOT@shaw.ca
Edmonton, AB Canada
-------------------------------------------