This article is the sixth of a multi-part series on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and discusses lifelong living after TBI. Following TBI, lifelong outcomes vary depending on the individual affected, treatment provided and severity of injury. Fortunately, many individuals who experience mild concussions common to childhood have no lasting symptoms. However, across the spectrum of mild to severe brain injury, many individuals and their families are affected by brain injury over the lifespan. Given this array of outcomes and the numerous options available to each person affected, the highest quality of long-term living occurs when a person-centered approach is the foundation for care and life planning. Person-centered plans place the individual with brain injury and his/her input, goals, needs and interests as the primary drivers of interventions and opportunities. In order to project care costs across the lifespan a formal life care plan may be developed. This life care plan is a "roadmap" for the care, services, equipment and accompanying costs that are likely to be needed throughout the lifespan. When an individual initially experiences a brain injury, whether it is traumatic or acquired, the main focus for the family is "getting through" each day and making sure that immediate needs are being met. At some point, however, parents or other family members and the individual with a TBI realize that they may need to plan for lifelong special needs in order to determine costs and available funding sources. A life care plan provides this information using timeframes and costs for items that include, but are not limited to: (1) equipment replacements; (2) therapies; (3) medications and supplies; (4) medical interventions; (5) architectural renovations; (6) adapted transportation; and (7) home care. Review of anticipated needs and their related expenses better enables everyone to plan for the individual's future. For individuals with a TBI and their families, lifelong living is not only about surviving, but thriving. The path of long-term living with TBI is at times complex, and may involve a broad array of supports and service, as well as persons to help coordinate and plan resources. Throughout all of this, supporting the individuals with a TBI and their hopes, goals and dreams as the epicenter of all efforts is the key to success. (Contains 2 figures.)