Evaluation of Life Care Plans Developed by a Private Rehabilitation Consulting Agency for Victims of Abuse Utilizing the IALCP Standards of Practice as a Base

a private rehabilitation consulting agency of the process for the development of life care plans (LCPs) designed for victims of abuse, and the perceptions of the attorneys who utilize them. The objective was that these findings could serve to identify areas for improvement for the agency. To successfully provide services, it is believed that life care planners should comply with the Standards of Practice for Life Care Planners created by the International Academy of Life Care Planners (IALCP, 2006). In the present study, a sample of 15 abuse cases was chosen, and their LCPs, client information reports, and client files were used for evidence that the guidelines for standards of practice as recommended by the IALCP were generally followed during the development of each life care plan in the sample. Brief interviews of three employees of the agency were conducted for evidence of compliance with the standards. In addition, the observations of several attorneys for whom these plans are generated were recorded for insight into their perceived effectiveness and usefulness in litigation proceedings. Results of the evaluation revealed that the agency is successful in their adherence to the standards developed by the IALCP and that the attorneys who retain the agency to development the plans found the plans to be very helpful to their cases. The few areas that could benefit from modifications called for an improvement in methods of documentation to improve accountability, or to support decisions for inclusion or exclusion of items or services in the life care plans.