PLANNED LIFETIME ASSISTANCE NETWORK OF PENNSYLVANIA (PLAN of PA)

PLANofPA is THE non profit to go to for continuous care of your loved ones with disabilities when you are no longer available to care for them yourselves, whatever the reason. They provide case management and trust management services for your loved one as well as support for you in whatever care giving role you are still able to assume.

When our daughter, mild intellectual disability and serious mental illness, was moved to an apartment program targeting mental health, we knew she needed additional supports due to her intellectual disabilities. We began using PLAN. That was 23 Years ago, and we continue to use them with case management and most recently trust support. The recently activated parent support group provides connections with other parents, which we enjoy. The life-altering activity of caring for a disabled child is a long, lonely and complex road and PLAN is a great help.

Rock star! This is what I think of the Care Management Team we have worked with at PLAN of PA. You all accomplished what my family and I have dreamed of for my adult special needs niece for years. As you know, she was managing IDD, diabetes, domestic violence issues, intractable epilepsy and psychiatric conditions. My niece is complicated! By her own desire, she was living ‘independently’, not successfully, and we had a team of professionals to support her. She was spiraling downward physically, emotionally, financially, you name it, she was in big trouble. It took years of worry and hoping and loads of patience to deal with her. PLAN of PA's Care Manager understood her situation and worked so well with the other agencies. She strove to build a relationship with my niece based on trust, compassion and building her confidence and self-esteem. Finally, you all came to her rescue when she needed it most and facilitated her placement into an assisted living home. You demonstrated a maturity, tact, and empathy that was so impressive. You took hurdles in stride and from my point of view, exceeded expectations every step of the way. Other members of the team echoed my opinion. I cannot say enough for all of you. My family says thank you. My niece says thank you. Her life has totally changed for the better. Her health has improved. Her quality of life has improved. She looks forward to the rest of her life.

Carol W

Our family has been a client of PLAN for several years. We have a 40year old mentally ill daughter. For many years we attempted to deal with the issues that arose from her mental illness by ourselves. However, as we've aged (we are in our seventies), it has become increasingly more difficult and exhausting for us to handle her problems. PLAN has given us the relief that we needed by helping our daughter in so many ways, such as utilizing services for her that we didn't know existed. But perhaps even more important for us, is that the professional care team at PLAN has allowed us to return to being a family again, rather than our having to 'police' our daughter's needs. Having a caring, professional staff that we can contact when things aren't going well has been invaluable. We are very grateful in so many ways to be clients of PLAN!

I have not come across a group of individuals more dedicated and determined to help those with mental health diagnoses or intellectual disabilities lead fulfilling lives than Plan of PA. The staff and directors have gone above and beyond to make their clients feel supported during this unique time.

This review was provide by Kathe, a person we support at PLAN of PA. Due to her feelings about using technology, she asked us to post this review on her behalf.

I welcome the opportunity to express my feelings concerning PLAN of PA. I have many experiences and activities to reflect on. I can ask for support anytime, trips to the doctor appointments, scheduling and transportation has been provided with a lot of support on the phone and car phone. Coloring and cards are my hobby and I appreciate it all of the support from the members of PLAN.
My care manager attended the music concert which is attended by special audiences. A lot of time is given to me by my care manager. I was lucky to design the holiday cards for PLAN of PA. I had great support in finding and the purchase of the dog. PLAN help me purchase food, toys and a dog walker. I have been taken to the hospital with extra support. The support has been physical and therapeutic. PLAN has excellent aids and great help as a special organization.

PLAN of PA has been a cornerstone of the greater Philadelphia area for many years in providing assistance to families with those with special needs.  PLAN of PA's team provides one-on-one services with social workers so that the needs of the clients can be attended to in a timely and caring fashion. They provide individualized case management and/or trust administration to each of their clients which takes the stress of the families.  My experience while working with PLAN of PA showed me the value their services provide to the community. Furthermore, I was able to experience first hand how appreciative the families were that such an organization existed. Love ones reliably felt confident their family was being cared for. 

About 17 years ago, after my daughter was diagnosed with a mental illness, I made an exhaustive search in the Philadelphia area for an organization that could provide her with individual help, understanding, support and guidance to the entire family. Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Pennsylvania (PLAN of PA) was the only professional organization that was comprehensive enough to meet all our needs. They provided help as she grew into adulthood (working to find her a job, supporting her is ways the her parents could not, etc). In fact, I was so impresed with their services that I volunteered to help their board and Executive Director(s) and staff. I continue to do s today. It is truely amazing that this small organiztion, founded 25+ years ago has blossomed into the power house we see today.

I am in awe of the care and wisdom I've seen PLAN of PA bring to their work in service of our mutual clients. They are tireless in their efforts and their compassion -- I'm so grateful to the whole team there and will continue to both refer clients and to use their services for my own family and community.

Thank you all for everything you do!

Our parents are now gone and our sister’s care falls to us, her siblings. Our parents ensured her well-being and her complex care by engaging the services of PLAN.

We have been involved with PLAN of PA for many years. Our sister had been in a group home before her physical health declined to a point that she had to be moved to a nursing home. PLAN helped us with that transition for we did not know where to look or how to evaluate.

We can only say positive things about the staff who have worked one-on-one with our sister. They have been extremely professional. They have been very knowledgeable in navigating the system which can be complicated. But, most important is how they engage with our sister and help to improve her life by suggesting activities, through their careful observation of her physical and mental health, by their respectful conversations with her and a genuine interest in who she is and how she feels.
For her part, she feels safe knowing that she has their support in all circumstances.

PLAN maintains regular communication with the family and is a team of dedicated, hard-working professionals. No problem is too difficult. They find solutions.

We are very fortunate to have PLAN of PA which gave our parents peace of mind and which gives us peace of mind. Having a sister with a mental illness is not easy but PLAN lifts a lot of the burden from our shoulders.

While serving as a Board member of PLAN of PA I had the opportunity to host a number of receptions with PLAN's clients and their families. I was always deeply impressed with the feedback received regarding the relationships established, the partnerships built, and the overall level of service and empathy that the PLAN staff provided to these folks. Navigating the rough waters of health, social, psychological and financial issues for those individuals (and family members) in need can be overwhelming, and there is a true appreciation for PLAN's advocacy and stewardship in these areas.

Plan of PA is a predatory HACK organization in *violation of its 501c3 status,* dedicated to profiting from pilfering vulnerable and disadvantaged victims. They steal clients’ funds; they refuse to disburse funds upon request, without explanation; they threaten to have clients thrown into state homes; they intimidate clients; they lie; they refuse to provide monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or even annual statements; when clients wish to remove their funds Plan of PA says “good luck, get a lawyer and fight us for your money and you’ll have nothing left by the time we get through with you.”
Do NOT trust these frauds. The “care managers” are not CPA’s, not accountants, not lawyers... They’re bachelors degrees in social work and other non-finance fields -- some have ZERO credentials. These people are wolves in sheep’s clothing who care nothing for their “clients”; they endeavor to keep all funds for themselves and they leave clients high and dry with no way of supporting themselves.

PLAN of Pennsylvania is one of those special gems of a non profit organization . The sole mission is to enhance the quality of life for those living with a mental illness or a life long disability . Families do not have to take this immense undertaking in raising their child with a disability on their own any longer . Call Plan of Pennsylvania today .

I have been working for Plan of PA for two years as a once a week volunteer. I mostly do the filing of the bills that are paid for their clients. I work with a very conscientious staff that are dedicated to their job. They work as a team under the guidance of an Executive Director. They are all very caring individuals. These employees really care about the people that they help everyday.