Life Care Planning:
Choosing To Live Well

We plan for the best life possible. Yet, all too often in this planning, we put off thinking out our final chapter for living well with peace of mind and without crisis. Consider this: Research shows that 70 percent of Americans would prefer to be at home with loved ones in their final days, yet only about 25 percent die at home. And, the most requested legal advice is how to deal with long-term care needs and end-of-life issues - amidst a family crisis.

In the midst of these care crises, families are often overwhelmed. A substantial body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for frail or disabled relatives. In fact, elderly spousal caregivers (aged 66-96) who experience caregiving-related stress have a 63% higher mortality rate than noncaregivers of the same age. (Schulz, R. & Beach, S. (1999). Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: The Caregiver Health Effects Study, JAMA, 282: 2215-2219.)

At the Elder Law practice of Hill & Franklin, our multi-disciplinary team will help you tackle this important planning for the best possible life. We help get your loved one the care he or she needs today, which offers welcome relief for caregivers. A Life Care Plan plugs you into our network of community services and resources; increases the chances that your loved one can age in place; puts all your legal and financial affairs in order; and empowers you with a network of support that will help you deal with every legal, health care and long-term care transition that your elder will face for the rest of his or her life.

The Life Care Plan is different from any other business dealing you may have had with a lawyer or other professional such as your doctor. Most lawyers deal in "transactions." That means you pay a fee to a lawyer for a transaction: for example, the lawyer closes a real estate deal for you, and you pay her a fee for the service. That's a transaction and once the transaction is completed the legal representation ends.

In contrast, a Life Care Plan with the Elder Law firm of Hill & Franklin is a "relationship." Although we do legal documents for you, help you with accessing and advocating for good care, and represent you in the application for public benefits, those services form part of our relationship with you-but none of them in and of itself is a relationship. In our Life Care Plan relationship, we give you a roadmap to find, get and pay for long-term care, preserve family wealth, advocate for quality care, and provide ongoing elder care-coordination for your elder until the end of life.