Special Needs Trusts

What does a Life Care Plan include?

• Descriptions of the special injury or incapacity the individual with a disability has suffered.
• What progressive disablement can be anticipated.
• Care strategies to accommodate present and future health-related needs.
• The present and future monetary costs of all necessary care.

Cost projections are based on pricing accurate to the geographic region in which the client will receive care.

A Life Care Plan allows a Trust Officer or family to truly manage the individual’s case, rather than merely “putting out fires” with savings or trust moneys.

What makes the Life Care Plan such a powerful tool?

• The Life Care Planner is specifically trained to realistically forecast the medical and financial demands of an individual’s condition – to foresee the “unforeseen” expenses and medical developments.
• Organizes a team of interdisciplinary experts to determine the best care and to provide an estimate of projected services and products for the most effective management of a specific case in a cost-effective manner.

After a Life Care Planner establishes the present and future medical and financial needs of the disabled individual, a family or trustee can more effectively establish a savings/ investment program based upon those needs.

The Life Care Plan enables you to make wiser, more realistic choices and decisions.

• In examining the individual’s case and planning for his or her future needs, the Life Care Planner works not just from theory, but from life experience.
• The Life Care Planner deals in real dollar figures, not government discounted costs.

The result is a “reality-based” plan which enables everyone involved in the care planning (physicians, therapists, family, vendors) and subsequent financial planning to make wiser, more realistic decisions. First and foremost, the plan is based on the patient’s needs.

What patient needs does a Life Care Planner take into consideration?

• Educational/vocational need
• Transportation needs
• Projected evaluations
• Drug and medical supplies
• Architectural modifications
• Orthopedic equipment needs
• Home care or facility care
• Surgical intervention
• Home furnishings & accessories
• Orthotics
• Recreational needs
• Potential complications
• Assistive technology
• Aids for independent function
• Routine future medical care
• Psychiatric needs
• Diagnostic testing/educational assessment
• Mobility requirements (e.g. wheelchairs, accessories and maintenance)
• Health maintenance needs

Beacon’s Life Care Planner: Ronald Smolarski

Ronald Smolarski, President of Beacon Rehabilitation Services, has provided his expertise in the field of Rehabilitation, and Life Care Planning to the Legal Profession since 1982.  Mr. Smolarski has been trained to look at every affected detail of the disabled person’s life, rather than at an isolated problem.

Mr. Smolarski has written an article for
Trusts & Estates entitled “Life-Care Planners Offer Unique and Supportive Expertise”
Read the article

Mr. Smolarski has written an article for
Michigan Lawyers Weekly entitled “Life-Care Planners Can Offer Attorneys Unique Expertise”
Read the article

The Life Care Plan:

• Assures the most effective services and equipment.
• Helps Trust Officers /Attorneys tailor investments to a patient’s long-term needs.
• Helps hospital discharge planners to prevent complications and provide follow-up care.
• Prevents more costly medical concerns in the future.
• Makes care more efficient and cost-effective.
• Assists the court system responsible for guardians and conservators.
• Helps families achieve Peace of mind.

Whoever you choose to prepare your Life Care Plan, make sure s/he is a certified Life Care Planner. Why?

A Certified Life Care Planner…

• Has in-depth knowledge of a variety of injuries and disabilities.
• Has worked with hundreds of patients who suffer long-term disabilities.
• Is aware of care options and medical assistance available for each disability.
• Is trained to foresee the complications of each disability and what that means for future care.
• Has the credentials to provide expert witness and testimony.

There is no substitute for the expertise of a Certified Life Care Planner. The quality/ success of a Life Care Plan depends upon it.

About Ronald Smolarski:

Ronald T. Smolarski, M.A. Rehabilitation, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (C.R.C.), Forensic Economist (C.E.A.), Certified Life Care Planner (C.L.C.P.), Certified International Psychometric Evaluator ( I.P.E.C.), Certified Case Manager (C,C.M.), Certified Vocational Evaluator (C.V.E.), Certified Rehabilitation Vocationologist, Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Disability Examiner II, and is certified in Functional / Work Capacity Evaluations.

He is a member of the National Association of Disability Evaluating Professionals and the National Rehabilitation Association, as well as The Council for Exceptional Children, the American Rehabilitation Economic Association, the National Association of Forensic Economists, and the Human Factors and Ergonomic Society.

Mr. Smolarksi is a diplomate of the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists, the American Board of Vocational Experts.