A Comparison of the Definition of a Life Care Plan: The Impact on Life Care Planners

Exploration of established and emerging definitions for the terms life care plan and life care planning was completed with the goal of factually and historically identifying differing and common conclusions amongst the definitions. Terminology of the original majority consensus definition for the term life care plan from the International Association of Life Care Planners was compared to the definitions of the terms life care plan and life care planning by The American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners, The International Commission on Health Care Certification, American Academy of Physician Life Care and their associated credentials, and their associated credentials of Certified Nurse Life Care Planner, Certified Life Care Planner and Certified Physician Life Care Planner. The authors identify historical precedent for the earliest definition, explore the origin for subsequent definitions, and study the definitions for differing or common conclusions. The authors find the fundamental principles of the coexistent definitions for the terms life care plan and life care planning are largely in agreement with one another, further reinforcing the origins of the subspecialty of life care planning as an inclusive and transdisciplinary practice.