Cases we take
Life care planning
What a life care plan is, who writes it, and why it decides whether a settlement still works twenty years from now.
What a life care plan is
A life care plan is a written report that lists everything an injured person will need for the rest of their life: medical care, therapy, equipment, medications, changes to the home, and help with daily tasks. For each item it says how often it is needed, for how long, and when it has to be replaced.
It is written by an independent specialist, often a nurse or rehabilitation professional, who reviews the records, talks with the treating doctors and therapists, and meets the person and their family. An economist then works out what the whole plan costs in today's dollars.
For families, it is also something more practical: a map of the years ahead. Many tell us it was the first time anyone explained the future in plain terms.
Why it matters so much
A settlement is final
Once a case settles, you cannot go back for more when a wheelchair wears out or a surgery is needed in year twelve. The plan is how those years get counted now.
Insurers count the first year
An insurer's offer usually reflects the bills already paid. A life care plan shows the decades still to come, item by item, with the reasons.
It protects benefits
A clear plan helps set up a special needs trust or a structured settlement so money lasts and needed benefits are not lost.
What goes into a plan
Every plan is different. These are the categories most plans cover, with typical examples.
| Category | Examples | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Medical care | Specialist visits, surgeries planned years ahead, hospital stays for known complications | Ongoing, with set review points |
| Therapy | Physical, occupational, speech and cognitive therapy, counseling | Weekly at first, then tapering or lifelong maintenance |
| Equipment | Wheelchairs, cushions, lifts, beds, prostheses, communication aids | Replaced every 3 to 7 years depending on the item |
| Attendant care | Help with bathing, dressing, transfers and supervision | Hours per day, adjusted as needs change with age |
| Home changes | Ramps, roll-in shower, wider doors, a ground-floor bedroom | Mostly once, with repairs and updates |
| Transport | Accessible van, hand controls, rides to appointments | Vehicle replaced on a regular cycle |
| Medication and supplies | Pain and spasm medications, catheter and wound-care supplies | Monthly, for life |
| Work and daily life | Vocational training, adaptive tools, help with household tasks | As needed over working years |
What a page of a plan looks like
An illustration only, written for this sample site. It is not a real person's plan, and a real plan runs to many pages with costs worked out by an economist.
Illustration, not a real client
Life care plan: equipment and care excerpt
Sample: adult, T10 complete spinal cord injury (AIS A)
- Ultralight manual wheelchair Replace every 5 years Basis: Physiatrist recommendation
- Pressure-relief cushion Replace every 2 years Basis: Seating clinic assessment
- Attendant care 6 hours a day, reviewed at age 60 Basis: Occupational therapy evaluation
- Physical therapy Twice weekly in year one, then 12 visits a year Basis: Treating therapist
- Urology follow-up Once a year, for life Basis: Spinal cord injury care guidelines
- Roll-in shower and ramp Once, with repairs every 10 years Basis: Home accessibility assessment
Who builds the plan
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A certified life care planner
Usually a nurse or rehabilitation specialist. Writes the plan and ties every item to a medical reason.
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The treating doctors
Physiatrists, neurologists, burn surgeons or prosthetists confirm what care is needed and how often.
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Therapists
Physical, occupational and speech therapists describe what daily life takes and what helps.
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A vocational expert
Looks at work: what is still possible, what training would help, and what income was lost.
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An economist
Turns the plan into a present-day value the court will accept, allowing for inflation and medical cost growth.
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You and your family
You know the daily routine better than anyone. Your journal and a walk through your home shape the plan.
Questions about the plan
Or ask us directly: (412) 555-0164
Who pays for the life care plan?
We do, as part of the case costs. If there is no recovery, you do not repay it.
Does the injured person have to be examined?
Usually yes, by the planner and sometimes by doctors. We schedule it around therapy and rest, and family members can be present.
What if needs change after the case ends?
That is why the plan looks ahead: it allows for aging, likely complications and replacements. It cannot predict everything, so we plan carefully and conservatively.
Planning for the years ahead starts with a conversation
Tell us about the injury and the care it needs today. We'll explain how a plan would look for your family.
Or call (412) 555-0164. A person answers 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.