We know it can be a difficult thing to think about and, for some, not an easy conversation to start with our friends and family. That is why Princess Alice Hospice has a team of trained volunteers who can support you with this process and mediate conversations between you and your loved ones if that is helpful. We are able to do this either face-to-face in your own home or via telephone. If you would like a volunteer to contact you please feel free to email our Coordinator at compassionatecommunities@pah.org.uk
Planning Ahead
Why should I plan for my future care?
Regardless of our current health and wellbeing, we can all benefit from being prepared for some of the choices that may face us in the future. There may become a time when we are unable to communicate what we would like to happen to us, either due to illness, an accident or mental incapacity. If we record and share our wishes in advance, we are more likely to get the care we want.
Feedback from people we have supported through this process, highlight the benefits some have found from going through the planning ahead process:
It was something I always meant to do but never found the time. Now I’ve got things in place I feel a weight has lifted and I can move on.
It was quite an emotional process but so valuable. I have talked to my GP and feel confident that all the relevant people now know how I’d like to spend the time I have left and how I want to be looked after.
Here actor Greg Wise explains why he has planned for his future care:
Helpful resources
Coordinate My Care
Those living a in a London Borough have access to an online NHS clinical service call MyCMC.
MyCMC is a simple tool that allows people to create their own urgent care plan online. Once you have created your record it is important that you make an appointment to speak with your GP or Nurse who will then input your medical details. Once this has been done, they will create a Coordinate My Care (CMC) record for you which means that your wishes and care preferences are shared with all the health and social care professionals who look after you: such as 111, the out-of-hours GPs, the Ambulance Service and the Emergency Departments.
The MyCMC website has a simple step-by-step guide to creating your MyCMC record. To get started you will need:
- Your postcode
- Your NHS number
- An email address (if you don’t have one you can use a proxy email e.g. a relative or a friend’s email)
You will find the MyCMC site here: https://www.coordinatemycare.co.uk/mycmc/
ReSPECT
For those living outside the London area there is a process known as ReSPECT . ReSPECT stands for Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment. The ReSPECT process creates a personalised recommendation for your clinical care in emergency situations where you are not able to make decisions or express your wishes.
The plan is created between you and your health professionals. Once you have created the plan (it is an easily recognisable purple form), it stays with you so it is available to health professionals called to help you in an emergency such as ambulance crews, out-of-hours doctors, and hospital staff.
For more information please visit the ReSPECT website or mention it to your GP if you would like to create a ReSPECT form: www.respectprocess.org.uk
Princess Alice Hospice – Planning Ahead Document for recording your wishes
Some people find it useful to work on their own paper Planning Ahead document either as preparation for completing MyCMC or a ReSPECT form, or as a standalone document. There are lots of different forms available online to record your wishes but Princess Alice Hospice has created a form in conjunction with a number of organisations, which you can download here.
Having difficult conversations/starting conversations
Compassion in Dying – Starting the conversation guide
Organisation that provides information to help prepare for the end of life. Has some great information booklets which can be downloaded.
https://compassionindying.org.uk/library/starting-the-conversation/
Marie Curie Talkabout
The Marie Curie magazine that aims to support and inspire conversations about dying, death and grief. Includes some interesting articles around preparing for end of life and how to talk about it.
Age UK
Helpful booklet about how to start difficult conversations with loved ones.
End of life planning
NHS Choices
Information on end of life care, advanced statements and advanced decisions
Compassion in Dying
Provide information to help prepare for the end of life and specialise in supporting people to make Advance Decisions. Their free MyDecisions website enables recording of wishes.
https://compassionindying.org.uk/making-decisions-and-planning-your-care/
Dying Matters
Coalition of members which aims to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement and to make plans for the end of life.
Age UK
National charity, with local services, supporting older people. Free information guides and factsheets are available, including those on end of life planning.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/information-advice/guides-and-factsheets/
Independent Age
Free advice and factsheets for older people which include ‘Planning for the End of Life’ and ‘Managing my affairs if I become ill’.
https://www.independentage.org/information/advice-guides-factsheets-leaflets
Funeral planning
The National Association of Funeral Directors https://nafd.org.uk/ and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors https://saif.org.uk/ can help with finding a local funeral director.
Funeral celebrants can assist with planning and conducting a funeral https://funeralcelebrants.org.uk/
Legal and financial
Law Society
The independent professional body for solicitors has a search facility to find a solicitor in your area for services such as will writing and Lasting Power of Attorney.
Solicitors for the Elderly
A national member organisation for lawyers specialising in working with older or vulnerable clients.
Free Will Services
Many charities and some member organisations have will writing services for simple wills. Free Wills Month for those over the age of 55 is held from time to time and involves charities and solicitors.
Office of the Public Guardian
Information and online applications for Lasting Power of Attorney.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian
SOLLA
Society of accredited financial advisers who can advise on financial planning in later life.
Government Guidance on Lasting Power of Attorney
Information on making, registering and ending Lasting Power of Attorney.
Other organisations supporting people approaching end of life
Jigsaw South East
Supports bereaved children and their families and those affected by a family member with a life limiting illness
Brigitte Trust
Emotional and practical support for those facing life threatening illness in the Surrey area.
Doulas
An End of Life Doula is someone who can support a person with a life limiting illness and their loved ones.