The evidence in brief
- NICE guidance (NG27) asks hospitals to involve people and carers in admission and discharge planning
- Delirium is common in older people in hospital; familiar routines and information help
- Legal documents such as a Lasting Power of Attorney must be in place before capacity is lost
- A short written account of the person helps staff respond to them, not just the condition
The practical essentials
Keep these together where someone can find them quickly.
- Current medicines and allergies
- GP details and key contacts, including who to call first
- Copies or locations of any Lasting Power of Attorney, advance decision or ReSPECT form
- Glasses, hearing aids, dentures and chargers — easily lost and hard to manage without
Who can speak for you
Being next of kin does not give anyone legal authority to make health decisions for an adult. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, that requires a registered Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare, made while the person still has capacity. If none exists and capacity is lost, decisions are made in the person's best interests, taking into account their known wishes.
Helping staff know the person
NICE guidance on delirium (CG103) recognises that disorientation, unfamiliar surroundings and disrupted routines increase risk. Tools such as Alzheimer's Society's 'This is me' exist because staff care better when they know someone's routines, communication and comforts.
A Life Profile goes further, recording identity, rhythm, relationships and what must be protected — written with an Occupational Therapist so it is clear and usable. It complements medical records and legal documents.
Before you go home
Discharge planning should start early. Ask who is coordinating it, what support is being arranged, and whether a carer's assessment or reablement has been considered. If ongoing needs are significant, NHS Continuing Healthcare screening may be relevant.
Sources
Do it before you need it.
The Future You® Life Profile is an Occupational Therapist-led picture of the person behind the paperwork — who you are, what matters to you and what you would want others to know. It complements, and does not replace, an LPA, advance decision, care plan or medical record.
General information for England and Wales. Not legal advice, and not a substitute for an individual clinical assessment.