3.3 Identify how the needs of others may need to be taken into account when planning advance care

This guide will help you answer 3.3 Identify how the needs of others may need to be taken into account when planning advance care.

Advance care planning allows someone to record their wishes for future care. This can cover medical treatment, personal care, and living arrangements. While the main focus is on the individual’s wishes, the needs of others often play a part in the process. These others may include family members, friends, carers, advocates, and healthcare professionals.

When planning, we must take into account how these people’s needs may influence decisions. This is not about placing their wants above the individual’s own decisions. It is about balancing support with respect for the person’s right to make their own choices.

Who Are the “Others” in Advance Care Planning

The needs of others can come from many sources. These are the people most involved in the person’s life and support network.

They can include:

• Family members such as spouse, partner, children, or siblings
• Friends who provide emotional or practical support
• Health and social care staff providing daily care
• Advocates representing the person’s voice
• Religious or cultural advisors
• Legal representatives, such as someone with Lasting Power of Attorney

Each group may face challenges or needs that must be considered during planning.

Balancing the Individual’s Wishes and the Needs of Others

The individual’s wishes take priority when they have capacity to make decisions. Yet, the needs of others might affect how plans are carried out. For example, a person may wish to stay at home in the final stages of illness. This could place heavy demands on family members as carers. If those carers have health issues of their own, this may not be realistic without extra support.

It is useful to look at both sides:

• What the person wants and feels is important for their dignity and comfort
• What the carers and supporters are physically, emotionally, and financially able to do

The aim is to find solutions that keep the person’s rights central but still respect the needs of others.

Emotional Needs of Others

Supporting someone through advance care planning can be emotional. Family and friends may need time to process what is happening. They may feel fear, grief, or uncertainty. These emotions can affect how they respond to the person’s wishes.

Carers may experience:

• Anxiety about being able to cope
• Guilt if they cannot meet every wish
• Sadness about losing the person
• Stress from extra responsibilities

These feelings do not mean they should override the individual’s decisions, but good planning can acknowledge and address them.

Physical Needs of Others

Caring for someone at the end of life can be physically demanding. Lifting, bathing, and supporting mobility require strength and energy. Some carers have their own health problems which may limit what they can do. When these needs are ignored, the quality of care for the individual can drop.

Planning should consider:

• Whether carers have access to equipment like hoists or adjustable beds
• The availability of respite care to give carers rest
• The impact of 24-hour care on others’ sleep and health

Financial Needs of Others

Family members may face costs linked to caring. Taking time off work can reduce income. Paying for travel to care visits can add strain. If someone wants home care, there may be costs for adaptations or private care providers.

Advance care plans can recognise these needs by including:

• Information on benefits or grants
• Access to financial advice services
• Local authority assessments for support funding

By considering money matters early, plans can be more realistic and sustainable.

Cultural and Religious Needs

The person’s culture or religion will often guide their own care wishes. But relatives and carers might have their own beliefs. In some cases, these may not match. This can lead to disagreement or discomfort.

It helps to look at:

• Cultural approaches to death and dying
• Family expectations for care and funeral traditions
• Language needs that impact communication

Respecting each person’s background can make the process gentler and more inclusive.

Communication Needs of Others

Not everyone supporting the person will communicate in the same way. Some may speak another language. Others may have hearing, sight, or speech difficulties. If these needs are missed, it can cause misunderstandings about what the individual wants.

This can be addressed by:

• Providing interpreters or translated materials
• Using large print or Braille
• Offering hearing loops for meetings

Clear communication benefits everyone and reduces stress.

Legal and Decision-Making Needs

Some people involved may have legal authority through Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare. This means they can make certain decisions if the person loses capacity. Others may not have this authority but still have valuable insight.

When creating an advance care plan:

• Make sure all parties understand their legal role
• Avoid giving conflicting instructions
• Check legal documents match the plan

This protects all involved from disputes later on.

Professional Needs and Workload of Care Staff

Healthcare staff and social workers are part of advance care planning. They may have heavy workloads and must follow organisational policies. They also have professional duties like maintaining confidentiality and respecting safeguarding laws.

Their needs can be supported through:

• Clear information about the person’s choices
• Coordinated care plans that reduce unnecessary duplication
• Regular staff briefings to keep everyone updated

This can help staff provide care that matches the person’s wishes without overloading them.

Managing Disagreements

Differences between the individual’s wishes and others’ needs can lead to conflict. A relative may want hospital care while the person chooses to remain at home, for example. These disagreements can cause stress and delay decision-making.

To manage this:

• Use open discussion to explore everyone’s concerns
• Involve independent advocates if needed
• Prioritise the person’s voice in decisions

Conflict resolution should focus on shared goals like comfort, dignity, and respect.

Flexibility in Advance Care Plans

The needs of others can change over time. A healthy spouse may become ill, or a child acting as carer may move away. Advance care plans should allow for changes in who can give support and how that support is given.

Regular reviews can help:

• Check current needs of carers and supporters
• Update arrangements for care delivery
• Keep everyone informed of changes

This makes the plan more adaptable and responsive.

The Role of Advocacy

An advocate can help the person and others express their needs. They can explain rights, support meetings, and make sure the person’s wishes are heard. This can be useful where there are strong differences of opinion or when the person has no close family.

Advocates can:

• Speak for the person if they cannot do so clearly
• Represent the views of carers when appropriate
• Support fair decision-making

Training and Support for Carers

Those providing daily care may benefit from training. This could be in moving and handling, personal care, or managing medication. Training can make care tasks less stressful for others and increase safety for the person.

Support networks such as carers’ groups can also help. These provide emotional support and practical advice.

Key support options include:

• Local carers’ centres
• Volunteer befriending services
• Online advice and community groups

Supporting Children and Young People

In some families, children are involved in care. This might be by helping with small tasks or living in the home during end-of-life care. They may need emotional support and reassurance, as well as clear explanations suited to their age.

Planning should recognise:

• School attendance and learning needs
• Access to young carers’ groups
• Opportunities for counselling if needed

This prevents children from feeling overwhelmed or excluded.

The Role of Multidisciplinary Teams

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) brings together professionals from health, social care, and other services. They can help match the person’s wishes with the needs and abilities of others. For example, the MDT can organise district nurses to share the care load with family members.

This shared approach means:

• Better use of available skills and resources
• More coordinated care delivery
• Reduced pressure on any one person

Respecting Privacy

Planning must respect the privacy of all involved. Carers or family members may not want certain personal details shared widely. Clear agreements can set out what information can be given to different people and services.

Steps include:

• Gaining consent before sharing information
• Keeping records secure
• Limiting discussions to those directly involved in care

This builds trust and protects relationships.

Keeping the Focus on Quality of Life

Advance care planning is not only about medical treatments. It looks at the person’s comfort, happiness, and dignity. The needs of others can influence how these goals are reached. For example, a person may want daily walks but needs someone else to support them. If that person cannot commit every day, the plan should explore alternatives.

This approach helps everyone feel the plan works in practice, not just in theory.

Final Thoughts

Advance care planning works best when it puts the person’s wishes at the centre but recognises that care takes place in a network of people. The needs of others can affect what is possible, how plans are carried out, and the wellbeing of all involved. Neglecting these needs can lead to stress, illness, and conflict. Including them creates shared understanding and realistic arrangements.

Good planning listens to every voice but gives priority to the individual’s rights. It looks ahead to changes and builds in flexibility. By working together in this way, we can offer care that is respectful, compassionate, and sustainable for everyone connected to the person’s life.