Future care planning

Future care planning supports people of all ages to manage changes in their life, health and care. It gives people kind and careful care in line with Realistic Medicine. 

If you are living with long term conditions, disabilities, a rare condition, frailty or any life shortening conditions, you can talk about what matters to you now and in future with members of your health and social care team.  

Future care planning often includes families and carers. If someone is not able to take part in these conversations themselves, we can talk with people close to them about planning ahead and involve anyone named in a Power of Attorney or a legal guardian.  

It is better for future care planning conversations to begin when someone is well but could need more support with their health or care in the future.  

Future care planning can help people get the right support if there is a health or care emergency and reduces the risk of one happening. If someone is admitted to hospital, a treatment escalation plan is often used to help us plan your care with you. 

Future care plans include what matters to you if you are ill or need more care along with advice from the care team that knows you to guide staff who are giving you urgent or emergency care. Plans are recorded, shared securely and updated when things change using different record systems across Scotland. You can have a copy of your current plan if you would like one. 

Public information about future care planning for people of all ages and their families and carers on NHS inform includes a short video with subtitles and some tips on talking about future care planning.

Source: NHS inform

Access: free online resource

Further resources can be found in the Future care planning (REDMAP) toolkit (including future care planning prompt cards) on TURAS.

Source: NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

Target Audience: all health and social care staff

Access: TURAS log in required