Advanced Care Planning

 

Advance care planning is the term used to describe the conversation between people, their families and carers and those looking after them about their future wishes and priorities for care.

Advance Care planning is improving care for people nearing the end of life and enabling better planning and provision of care, to help them live well and die well in the place of their choosing. It enables people to discuss and record their future health and care wishes and also to appoint someone as an advocate or surrogate, thus making the likelihood of these wishes being known and respected at the end of life.

The main goal is to clarify peoples’ wishes, needs and preferences and deliver care to meet these needs.
Patients do not usually consider putting an advanced Care Plan in place until they reach the stage in their lives where a care plan is needed, to help provide the best care for that individual.

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/end-of-life-care/planning-ahead/

 

If the person decides that they want to create an advance care plan:

• We ask them if they want to involve their family, friends or advocates and if so, make sure
  they are included.
• Help them consider whether involving a healthcare professional could be useful.
• Take into account the person’s:
  • history
  • social circumstances
  • wishes and feelings
  • beliefs, including religious, cultural and ethnic factors
  • aspirations
  • any other factors they feel are important.
• Help them think about how their needs might change in the future.