For this task, you need to be able to show your understanding of the importance of advanced care planning.
Read the scenario and answer the questions that follow.
Your role
You have been a support worker for Mrs Letts for six months. Mrs Letts needs support with personal cares because of her mobility challenges. She has always been friendly and enjoyed your visits.
About Mrs Letts
Mrs Letts is 75 years old and has been living alone in her own home since her husband William died of a heart attack three years ago.
Mrs Letts has two daughters and four teenage grandchildren. Both daughters live locally and always drive Mrs Letts to family gatherings.
In your first few months of supporting her, Mrs Letts was quite independent and had a good daily routine of making her own meals, washing up, doing light housework and personal laundry.
Mrs Letts has a mobility scooter which she uses to get to the supermarket, to go to church at the weekends and to visit her community centre once or twice a week for social activities.
Mrs Letts has a small group of friends who visit each other once a week for morning or afternoon tea.
Changes in Mrs Letts’ ability to look after herself
You notice that Mrs Letts is doing less and less around the home:
- The washing up isn’t done.
- The pantry is full of tins of soup and packets of tea and butter.
- There is mouldy, uneaten food in the fridge.
Advanced care planning
Mrs Letts’ daughter was also concerned with the change in her Mum’s ability to care for herself. Her daughter took Mrs Letts to see her GP.
At this stage, Mrs Letts’ GP recommended that her daughter take her to the family lawyer to arrange getting an enduring power of attorney in place as she didn’t have one.
Why would a GP suggest that an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) is needed?
Describe another example of advanced care planning that should be completed and how it could use a person centred approach.
For example, transition to dementia care, transition to end-of-life care, palliative care.
Explain at least one reason why person-centred advanced care planning is important for Mrs Letts?
