Living with a chronic (long-term) illness means ongoing care, adjustment, and adaptation. A well thought-out management plan helps you take control, stay well, and reduce complications.
Here’s what goes into a good management plan.
A management plan (sometimes called a care plan, self-management plan or personalised care plan) is a guide that outlines how you and your healthcare team will manage your condition over time.
It includes goals, actions, monitoring, and contingency plans for flare-ups or changes.
It helps people gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage their own health and care, with self-management education (SME) forms a key component of that approach.
A good plan is personalised, flexible, collaborative, and regularly reviewed.
Here are the essential building blocks of a robust plan.
| Element | What It Means / Why It Matters | Tips / Examples |
| Personal profile & goals | Your values/ priorities | “I want to walk 30 minutes daily”, or “I want to reduce hospital visits” |
| Understanding the condition | What is going on medically (triggers, progression) | What flares it, what helps, what to avoid |
| Medication and treatments | What you take, when, how, side-effects, interactions | A schedule, reminders, adjustment plan with your doctor |
| Monitoring and measurement | What to track (e.g. blood pressure, blood sugar, symptoms) and how often | Use logs, apps, diaries |
| Lifestyle & self-care actions | Diet, exercise, sleep, stress, smoking/alcohol, weight management | Gradual goals, realistic steps |
| Support & resources | Who helps you (health team, therapists, peer groups, coaches) | Include contacts, helplines, community services |
| Coping strategies & mental health | How to cope emotionally, manage uncertainty, distress | Therapeutic techniques like CBT, mindfulness, support groups |
| Flare-up / escalation plan | What to do when things worsen – when to increase meds, call GP, go to A&E | Pre-agreed triggers (e.g. “if fever > 38 for 2 days”) |
| Review & adaptation schedule | When you (and your team) revisit and revise the plan | E.g. every 3–6 months, or after big changes |
