Staff need to empower residents to discuss their preferences for treatment as they near the end of life, and act as advocates if necessary. Les Storey and Eleanor Sherwen explore strategies they can use to achieve this

Admission to a care home is a major event for many individuals and, for some, a time when they may lose their independence. It is at this juncture that they should be given the opportunity to participate in planning their future care. An advance care plan (ACP) is a means for people with capacity to document their preferences for their care and to enable providers to advocate on their behalf. Some people will have lost mental capacity before admission to a care facility, so it is essential for staff to be familiar with the complexities of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to support residents approaching the end of life.

This article outlines the processes of ACP and identifies resources available to support the introduction of ACP into care homes.