Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool

Future care planning supports people of all ages to manage changes in their life, health and care. It is a broader approach that has replaced advance care planning throughout Scotland.

People living with long term conditions, disabilities, a rare condition, frailty or any life shortening conditions should be offered future care planning. Future care planning often includes families and carers. If someone is not able to take part in these conversations themselves, we can 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 helps people get the right support if there is a health or care emergency and reduces the risk of one happening.

Future care plans include what matters to the person if they are ill or need more care along with advice from the care team that knows them to guide staff giving urgent or emergency care. Plans are recorded, shared and updated when things change.

The 6-step REDMAP framework is recommended as a guide to future care planning conversations. It gives examples of what we can say at each step and highlights key phrases you can adapt to different people and situations.