Care planning for older adults living in a care home: a guide for family and friends

As a family member or friend, this guide is designed to help you understand care planning for older adults living in care homes in England and how you can contribute to the process. Supporting a person to move into a care home is often a challenging time and becoming involved in care planning may take time.

A care plan is a document that helps to ensure that someone receives high-quality care that respects their wishes and meets their needs. It's a living document that helps care providers to understand who they are, what matters to them, and how to support them to live a fulfilling life. Individuals who can contribute to a person's care plan include care home staff, family members and friends and external health and social care professionals. If appropriate, some parts of the care plan may be shared with external health and social care professionals involved in the person’s care. What is a Care Plan? Person-centred care: It helps tailor care to the person’s unique preferences, abilities, and needs. Transparency and continuity: It ensures that all health and care professionals involved in the person’s care know how to best support them. It helps family members and friends know how the person is being supported. Empowerment: It gives the person as much choice and control as is possible over their daily life.