Improving the approach to future care planning in care homes.

BACKGROUND:: There is international and national interest in the availability and provision of quality end-of-life care. In the UK this includes the promotion of advance care planning (ACP).

AIMS:: To support care home staff to apply national policy on ACP in practice.

METHODS:: A proactive document, the PErsonalised Advisory CarE (PEACE) plan, was created. An audit was undertaken of its implementation in practice in one care home.

FINDINGS:: All of the residents with a PEACE plan who died (n=8) did so in their preferred place of care; only 50% of residents (3 out of 6) without a PEACE plan died in their preferred place of care. No family members declined the opportunity to have a PEACE plan conversation.

CONCLUSION:: Future care planning, rather than ACP, is required in nursing care homes. Research investigating the outcomes and cost-effectiveness of undertaking these conversations is required to further guide national recommendations.