Home Assessment in Life Care Planning

Of the originally published life care planning format, two pages or categories, Home Furnishings and Accessories, and Architectural Renovations, were dedicated to addressing requirements associated with living at home for clients with catastrophic injuries or complex chronic healthcare needs (Deutsch & Raffa, 1981; Deutsch & Sawyer, 1985). The category relating to home furnishings is generally understood to incorporate equipment and supplies, typically of a “medical” nature, such as with durable medical equipment and other required equipment. Examples include specialized beds and skin care mattresses, patient lift systems, and portable ramps (Deutsch & Sawyer, 1985; Weed & Field, 2001; Weed & Berens, 2006). Similarly, the category relating to architectural renovations provides for permanent alterations or modifications to a structure. Examples include accessible bathrooms, accessible entrances, wider doorways, modified kitchens, changed floor coverings, etc. However, in many situations, an existing structure may require such extensive modifications that the task is impossible to achieve or the cost benefit analysis results in a decision to design and build a new home that more appropriately fits the client’s needs. The life care planner must also recognize that some clients will not have the funding to fully achieve recommended modifications or housing design, and such home furnishings and architectural renovations recommendations should be prioritized based on the level of necessity to achieve maximum value. This article will offer an overview of a suggested life care planning process for home assessments, including the recommended qualifications of the professional on whom the life care planner may rely for appropriate home assessment recommendations.