Step 1 of Life-Care Planning: Let’s Get to Know Each Other
For several decades now, I’ve approached meeting new life-care planning clients with a simple objective. “Let’s take it a step at a time,” I say. “Let’s get to know each other.”
Life-care planning is a marathon. There may be many years – even decades – between beginning a care plan and life’s end stages.
(Related reading: “Mom’s Still Healthy. Can Life-Care Planning Wait?”)
Realities may change. Small adjustments and big course corrections could be needed. But the core of our elder loved ones’ wishes and big-picture plans often remain the same. So why not begin the process by collecting and organizing ALL of the information in one centralized location for easy access and efficiency? Why not document care needs and personal preferences in writing to limit confusion?
In this blog, we’ll discuss the first step of Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC’s life-care planning process. “Step 1: Let’s Get to Know Each Other,” is designed to create a holistic roadmap that respects your autonomy and ensures that decision-making remains with the individual for as long as possible.
Step 1 of the Life-Care Planning Process: Understanding the Whole Person
During initial consultations, I bring a binder to organize such pertinent information and understand the whole person – their preferences, family, relationships and life aspirations. To help care-partner teams everywhere take ownership of their own life-care planning process, I’ve turned this binder into a helpful workbook available on Amazon: “Because I Love You: My Book About Me.”
Here at Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC, we believe that life-care planning is not just about addressing medical needs. It requires a holistic approach, factoring everything that impacts A LIFE WORTH LIVING.
Building a Supportive Care-Partner Team
One of the most critical components of life-care planning is identifying members of the care-partner team. The inner-circle of this team includes family, friends and even cherished pets who play an integral role in an elder’s life. The outer circle includes doctors, clinicians, financial advisors, legal experts and other professionals who assist key processes.
By collecting the names and contact information of these important individuals, we ensure that our elder loved ones are surrounded by a supportive network that understands their distinct needs and values.
Why It’s Important:
- Strengthens Your Support System: A well-defined care-partner team is a network of people who know your preferences, can assist daily responsibilities, can help with informed decision-making and advocate on your behalf, if necessary.
- Ensures Continuity of Care: In times of need, care partners can step in seamlessly, knowing their loved one’s exact history and wishes.
- Provides Peace of Mind: Knowing your care is in the hands of trusted individuals brings comfort and assurance, while ensuring quality care on the individual’s terms.
Centralizing Legal, Health & Financial Information
Organizing essential documents in one location is crucial for effective life-care planning. This includes reviewing legal documents, gathering health and medication information, and delving into financial details.
In emergencies, elder loved ones and caregivers need easy access to such documentation. Overall, our goal is to ensure that wishes and needs are established for a clear strategy guiding care.
Key Areas of Focus:
- Legal Documents: Work with an estate attorney to create, review and update wills, power of attorney and other legal documents to ensure wishes are legally sound and prepared for use at the appropriate time.
- Health Information: Document medical diagnoses, medications, treatments and medical providers’ details for a comprehensive health profile that can be easily accessed when needed.
- Financial Information: Meet with financial advisors to strategize funding for your care both now and in the future to access the care required.
Why It’s Important:
- Reduces Confusion: Having all important information in one place makes it easier to consult established wishes and manage affairs efficiently.
- Ensures Informed Decisions: With clear documentation, decision-making seamlessly aligns with preferences, health needs and financial realities.
- Streamlines Processes: Centralized information simplifies coordination among elders and families with healthcare providers, legal advisors and financial planners.
Exploring Personal Preferences
Beyond the clinical aspects, a life-care plan also must honor individuality by understanding and documenting personal likes and dislikes. Whether it’s your elder loved one’s favorite music, preferred daily routines or specific comfort items, these personal preferences play a significant role in overall happiness and well-being.
Why It’s Important:
- Improves Quality of Life: Tailoring care to include your personal preferences ensures that our loved ones continue to enjoy the things that matter most.
- Nurtures Emotional Well-Being: Recognizing and incorporating your likes and dislikes into a life-care plan supports your mental and emotional health.
- Strengthens Relationships: Sharing individual preferences helps care partners connect with the individual more deeply, fostering a more supportive and empathetic environment.
Crafting a Personalized Life-Care Plan for Autonomy
As a Board-certified Patient Advocate in the State of Florida, my role is not to manage care plans, but rather to be a guide and protector of autonomy. Our shared objective is to extend decision-making power for the individual for as long as possible.
Should the need arise, a well-crafted life-care plan ensures that decisions are made by individuals chosen by our elder loved ones. The aim is for everyone providing support to know the complete person, beyond surface-level needs and best practices for medical diagnoses.
Steps to Crafting Your Life-Care Plan:
- Initial Sessions: We begin with a series of sessions designed to grow personal understanding and to build the care-partner team.
- Interactive Questions: We pose questions to unravel the unique threads of an elder’s life, documenting vital health, financial and legal information.
- Personal Reflections: The next few pages of our guide provide space to answer questions and provide relevant information about personal preferences and values.
Life-Care Planning: Join Us in Creating a Life Worth Living
“Step 1: Let’s Get to Know Each Other” of our life-care planning process is the foundation of a comprehensive roadmap to the future that respects autonomy and honors individuality. By identifying key care partners and professionals, centralizing important documents, and exploring personal preferences, we streamline and simplify the path to A LIFE WORTH LIVING.
Join us on this journey. At Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC, of Clearwater, FL, we are committed to supporting elder loved ones and care partner teams every step of the way. Let’s become partners in life-care planning to truly reflects what individuals and families value most.
For more information – or to just reach out and chat – email me at maureen@caregiversupportandresources.com.
