Future Care Planning: Take action today to plan for your future

The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales is urging people to take action to plan for their futures, so that their wishes are respected if they find themselves in need of care and support, or unable to make decisions for themselves.

This important message comes alongside the launch of a new guide from the Commissioner – Future Care Planning: Planning for your future today – which provides a wide range of helpful information about the ways in which we can think about, discuss, and record our wishes for the future.

The guide covers topics that many people may already be fairly familiar with, such as making a will or organ donation, as well as less well-known arrangements, such as setting up Lasting Powers of Attorney or Advance Statements, which enable us to record our preferences in terms of care, treatment and financial matters.

The guide also includes details about resources and templates that can help people with future care planning, as well as contact details for organisations that can provide useful information and support.

The Commissioner developed the guide in response to conversations with many older people who told her that although they were interested in exploring the steps they could take to ensure their future wishes would be respected, they struggled to find clear information about the options available.

The guide is available online from the Commissioner’s website, with paper copies also being distributed to community-based groups and organisations across Wales.

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said:

“We often find it difficult to consider how our needs or circumstances may change as we grow older, and what we would want to happen if they do.

“But it’s really important that we think about, discuss and record our preferences to help ensure that any care or treatment we may require reflects our needs and wishes, or that our financial affairs are properly managed.

“This could include things like how we’d like to be cared for, treatment options we may wish to refuse, preferences based on personal or religious beliefs and nominating individuals to speak up for us if we are no longer able to make decisions for ourselves.

“Many older people I’ve spoken with across Wales have told me they’d like to look into making these kind of arrangements, but have struggled to find clear information and resources to help them navigate these processes.

“That’s why I’m launching my new guide today, to help people better understand what’s involved, the steps they might need to take, and the advice they may need to seek to put appropriate arrangements in place.

“And I hope that with the support of my guide, people across Wales feel more empowered to plan for their futures today.”