Advance care planning
There are a number of things that can be done to plan for care in the future. These are known collectively as ‘advance care planning’. Advance Decisions and Advance Statements enable individuals to make decisions about their views, preferences and wishes about future care before they are no longer able to and provide guidance to relatives and others supporting them.
Advance Care Planning is a process of discussion between the individual and those who provide care for them. There are sources of advice and templates on Advance Care Plans. The term ‘Living will’ is sometimes used to refer to Advance Statements.
- Mental Capacity Act Code of PracticeThis guidance published by the Office of the Public Guardian explains to people working with or caring for adults who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves the legal responsibilities that must be considered under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Planning for your future careThis guidance published by the National Council for Palliative Care explains advance care planning to the public. It outlines the different options available to people when planning for their end of life care.
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)This factsheet published by the Alzheimer's Society explains the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which are part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It also outlines the process for getting authorisation for a deprivation of liberty and how to get it reviewed.
- Advance decisionsAdvance Directives (also referred to as advance decisions to refuse treatment, ADRTs, or living wills) may be drawn up by any person with capacity to do so who is over the age of 18, to determine what treatment they might receive in the event of them losing capacity to make decisions under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005The Mental Capacity Act 2005 came into force in 2007 and affects all those working in health and social care involved in caring for people over the age of 16 who are unable to make some or all decisions for themselves.
- The dementia guideThis guide produced by the Alzheimer's Society is for anyone who has recently been told they have dementia.
- QS30: Supporting people to live well with dementiaThis quality standard, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), covers the care and support of people with dementia.
- RCGP Commissioning Guidance in End of Life CareThis guidance offers a logical six-step framework and overview to support GP commissioners to deliver practical improvements in end of life care, aligned with national policy and quality standards.
- Advance care planning toolkitThis toolkit developed by the National End of Life Care Programme (NEoLCP) aims to help care providers approach the advance care planning process with confidence and knowledge.
- Matters of Life and Death: Helping people to live well until they dieThis guidance aims to support practitioners to implement the End of Life Care Patient Charter, jointly produced by the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing.
- Dementia UKDementia UK provides specialist dementia support for families through our Admiral Nurse service. When things get challenging or difficult for people with dementia and their families, Admiral Nurses work alongside them. They give the compassionate one-to-one support, guidance and practical solutions people need, and that can be hard to find elsewhere.7th Floor, One Aldgate, London, EC3N 1RE020 8036 email@example.com://www.dementiauk.org
- National Council for Palliative CareThe National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) is the umbrella charity for all those involved in palliative, end of life and hospice care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.The Fitzpatrick Building, 188-194 York Way, London, N7 9AS020 7697 firstname.lastname@example.org://www.ncpc.org.uk/
- Gold Standards Framework CentreThe National Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Centre in End of Life Care is the national training and coordinating centre for all GSF programmes, enabling generalist frontline staff to provide a gold standard of care for people nearing the end of life.Victoria Mews, 8-9 St Austin's Friars, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1RY01743 291 email@example.com://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/
- Carers UKCarers UK is a national membership charity for carers, that is both a support network and a movement for change.20 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4LX0808 808 firstname.lastname@example.org://www.carersuk.org/
- Alzheimer’s SocietyAlzheimer's Society is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.Devon House, 58 St Katharine's Way, London, E1W 1LB020 7423 email@example.com://www.alzheimers.org.uk/