Which statement about care planning is true?

• A. It uses only the consumer's preferences
• B. It relies solely on budget constraints
• C. It uses the consumer's needs and professional assessments
• D. It is not updated after creation

Answer: (C)

Care planning is built on combining the consumer’s needs with professional assessments to create an individualized plan. This approach ensures that what the person wants and what is medically or functionally appropriate are both represented in the plan. The plan should reflect the consumer’s goals, strengths, and preferences, while also incorporating evaluations and recommendations from the care team—nurses, therapists, social workers, and physicians—to determine feasible interventions and supports. Importantly, a care plan is a living document: it should be reviewed and updated as the person’s condition, goals, or resources change, or as progress or setbacks occur. This collaborative, dynamic process helps ensure safety, effectiveness, and alignment with the person’s values.

Relying only on preferences would overlook necessary clinical or safety considerations. Budget constraints matter in shaping what can be offered, but they do not replace the need to address actual needs and professional judgments. And a care plan should be revisited and revised over time; not updating it can lead to gaps in care and failures to respond to changing needs.