Planning ahead for support and care
Planning can make important information easier to find and help others understand a person’s preferences.
Different situations need different plans.
Emergency Care Plan
An emergency care plan makes it easy for someone to take over from you in a hurry. It has all the information about the person you care for in one place, so you can get it quickly and easily.
The emergency care plan has:
emergency contacts
the care needs of the person you care for
medical information and contacts
a medicine list
carer emergency cards
Download Your Emergency Care Plan Guide
Planning for changes
Consider upcoming transitions, changes in support people and the arrangements the person wants for their future.
Review plans when circumstances change.
Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning is a discussion exploring a person’s values and preferences for their future health care, including end-of-life care. This can be a discussion among family and friends at any stage of life. If a person is older, has had a chronic illness for a long time, or has dementia or other cognitive impairment, it will often involve doctors or other health professionals.
Advance care planning may lead to the completion of an Advance Care Directive.
Keep plans usable
Use clear language, accessible formats and a location agreed with the person.
A plan needs to be available to the right people while protecting private information.
Useful starting points
Carer Gateway provides emergency planning information.
WA health resources explain advance care planning and relevant documents.