Life Care Plan for SCI

Attorneys in the Oakland law office of Van Blois & Associates represent individuals with serious spinal cord injuries (SCI), helping them obtain a life care plan to identify the costs associated with their injury and develop a framework for their future care and recovery.

It can be difficult to conceive of the myriad of costs an individual with a spinal cord injury will endure over a lifetime.  When considering the variety of treatment options, costs can easily range into the millions of dollars.  A life care plan is a long-term care plan designed by a vocational or health care professional that includes all of these expected costs, based on diagnosis and consultation with medical providers, facilities, vendors, and suppliers of medical equipment. 

Beyond simply evaluating medical costs, a life care plan contains a comprehensive outline that anticipates all the needs over an individual's lifetime.  This includes medical care, equipment, and services, as well as educational and vocational programs that may be needed.  Additional categories of needs and associated costs include:

• Health - future health complications, ranging from bedsores and fractures to respiratory and urinary tract infections to organ failure, will require periodic visits with a primary care physician, as well as specialists such as a urologist or pulmonologist.  In addition, rehabilitation providers such as physiatrists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists should be considered.  Periodic monitoring and diagnostic testing, and accompanying laboratory costs, will need to be included, as well as future medical and surgical procedures to maintain pumps or other implanted devices.  Finally, current, long-term medication regimens must be considered.
• Housing - some level of home care assistance will be provided, whether it is at-home professional care, an assisted living facility, or respite care to aid a family member serving as the primary caregiver.  Modifications may need to be made to the home, such as the installation of ramps, widening of doorways, or bathroom remodeling.  Depending upon the level of paralysis, automatic doors and motorized lifts may be required as well.
• Mobility and Transportation - a manual and/or motorized wheelchair will likely be necessary, as well as a van or motor vehicle with adapted driving controls.
• Psychosocial - psychological or psychiatric care may be necessary for a prolonged period following the injury to help the patient adjust to life with SCI.  Future periods of treatment for crisis management may also be needed throughout the person's lifetime.
• Equipment and Supplies that will be required for future care should be included in the plan, considering replacement costs and replenishment of consumables.

Issues of education, employment, and recreation, specific to the individual and necessary for maintaining a high quality of life, should also be addressed.  A thorough Life Care Plan will also include informational resources on rehabilitation centers, research and treatment centers, and associations and organizations that assist individuals with SCI.

A Life Care Plan can also be useful in litigation as evidence of economic damages that should be awarded in order to compensate an injured party for the direct costs of the injury over a lifetime.  A certified case manager, life care planner, or other professional who develops a plan may be called upon to consult with an attorney in evaluating potential damages or providing expert witness testimony regarding the methodology used in arriving at the costs of care.

The personal injury trial lawyers at Van Blois & Associates understand the specific legal and medical issues involved in spinal cord injury cases, and the steps necessary to ensure adequate compensation for their clients.  If you have further questions about establishing a life care plan for living with a spinal cord injury, or need legal representation in a matter related to your injury, contact Van Blois & Associates today to speak with one of our attorneys.