Future scenario

After she turned 80, Doreen found her health deteriorating. Doreen has diagnoses of diabetes, and emphysema (COPD), as well as early stage dementia. She lives with her husband, Roy, who is 82, who also has diabetes but is otherwise fit and cares for her.

Paul, her GP, invited Doreen for her annual assessment. Based on her increasing frailty, he accepted her onto the caseload for complex, case-managed patients who are supported by a multidisciplinary team in the community. Angela, a member of the community team, is her care coordinator.

Paul and Angela worked with Doreen and Roy to create two plans. The first was a care plan which summarised Doreen’s health needs according to her preferences and priorities, and what she and Roy would want in the event of a crisis or deterioration in health. The second, a self-care plan, allowed Doreen to describe her goals and needs for caring for herself safely at home, and identified how she could be supported in doing so by Roy and the health system.