A functional seizure plan is a one page note that tells family, friends and carers how to respond. It is written with the person who has the seizures and checked with their treating team. It replaces guesswork with the person's own wishes, so everyone around them reacts in the same calm, agreed way.
Part of our FND guide. This article is part of FND care at home: the complete guide, which brings together symptoms, functional seizures, living alone, driving, PIP, coming home from hospital and the care options available in Hertfordshire.
To talk anything through with someone local, our St Albans team is on 01727 324 127.
Starling Homecare is a family run provider registered with the Care Quality Commission. We support people with functional neurological disorder (FND) at home across Hertfordshire. This guide is general information, not medical advice. Everyone's seizures differ, and their own clinicians have the final word.
Why does a written plan help?
Functional seizures, also called dissociative or non-epileptic seizures, can be frightening to watch. In that moment, people tend to fall back on what they think they know about epilepsy. However, some of those instincts, such as holding the person still, are exactly what guidance says not to do.
NHS Scotland's self-management guidance on dissociative seizures says family and friends need to know what to do. NHS Scotland's frequently asked questions also encourage people to tell family and friends what they would like them to do. A plan simply writes that down. Then a partner, a teenage son, a neighbour or a carer can all follow the same page.
Also, published advice on when to call an ambulance differs. A plan agreed with the person's own team removes that doubt. Our article on what to do when someone has a functional seizure covers the moment itself in more detail.
What goes in a functional seizure plan?
A functional seizure plan works best on one side of paper, in plain words, with short headings. A clear layout matters more than detail, because people read it in a hurry.
1. Who it is for, and who agreed it
Write the person's name, the date and who checked the plan. That might be their neurologist, specialist nurse or GP. Add the contact number that team has given, and a review date.
2. What a seizure looks like for this person
Describe their usual seizures in a sentence or two. According to neurosymptoms.org, some people get no warning and others get one every time. So note any early signs. Add known triggers, such as stress, pain or long spells resting with nothing to do.
3. What to do during a seizure
Epilepsy Action's guidance on functional seizures gives the core steps most plans will include:
- stay calm and reassuring
- move hard or sharp objects out of the way
- cushion their head with something soft
- do not hold them down or restrain them
- do not put anything in their mouth
Then add the person's own preferences. For example, do they want to hear a familiar voice, have a hand held, or be given space? Neurosymptoms.org notes that people are often aware of those around them, so a calm, kind tone matters.
4. What helps afterwards
Once it stops, Epilepsy Action advises the recovery position, and staying until the person has recovered. Then note what helps them come round, such as a quiet room or slow breathing. Add roughly how long recovery takes.
5. When to call 999
Write this section in the treating team's own words. If nothing has been agreed yet, Epilepsy Action advises calling 999 when:
- it is a first seizure, or the type is unknown
- seizures repeat, one after another
- a seizure lasts more than five minutes
- the person is unresponsive for over ten minutes afterwards
- they are injured or not breathing normally
6. What to record
Note the time, how long it lasted and what happened before. If the person agrees in advance, a short phone video can help. Neurosymptoms.org says specialists diagnose more accurately, in nine out of ten cases, with a video.
Writing the plan with the person, not about them
The plan belongs to the person who has the seizures. So write it with them, in their words, at a calm moment rather than straight after an episode. Ask how they want to be treated, and what would feel undignified.
Keep medical detail out unless their team has written it. In particular, the plan should not tell anyone to give, change or withhold a medicine. That is a clinical decision, not a family one.
Who should check it, and how often?
Take the draft to the next appointment, or send it to the specialist nurse or GP to confirm. Then review it on the agreed date, and after any change in seizures, treatment or home life.
Where should the plan be kept?
Keep copies where people will look: on the fridge, in a bag, and as a photo on the phone. NHS Scotland suggests carrying information about your seizures, and notes some people choose an alert bracelet. If carers visit, a copy also belongs in the care records at home.
How Starling Homecare carers use a functional seizure plan
When we support someone with FND, the agreed plan becomes part of their care plan.
Read more about our FND care at home in Hertfordshire, and about non-epileptic seizures and how they differ from epilepsy.
Frequently asked questions
Does Starling Homecare support people with functional seizures in Hertfordshire?
Yes. We provide care at home for people living with FND, including functional seizures, across our Hertfordshire areas.
Is a functional seizure plan the same as an epilepsy plan?
No. Functional seizures are different from epileptic seizures, and the advice can differ, for example on when an ambulance is needed. Use a plan written for this person's diagnosis, never a borrowed epilepsy template.
Do we always need an ambulance?
Not always. NHS Scotland says it is not necessary to call an ambulance, while Epilepsy Action lists situations where 999 is right. That difference is the reason to agree the answer with the treating team and write it down.
Can a teenager or neighbour follow the plan?
Yes, if the person is happy for them to see it. Keep the words simple, and walk them through it once so it feels familiar.
A good plan gives everyone in the house the same calm first step. If you care for someone with FND and would like help at home, our team can explain how visits work.
Figures and guidance checked on 25 October 2026 against Epilepsy Action: functional (dissociative) seizures, NHS Scotland Right Decisions: dissociative seizures and neurosymptoms.org: functional (dissociative) seizures.
Arranging Care Is Simple
Starting care can feel like a big step. We keep it calm and straightforward, and we are here to guide you from your very first call.
1. Talk to us
Get in touch by phone or request a callback. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand the options, so you can decide what feels right in your own time.
2. A home visit and initial consultation
We arrange a visit to understand your routines, your home and what matters most to you. Together we agree an initial consultation and shape the support that feels right.
3. Your care begins
A small, familiar team starts your care, arriving at the agreed times and staying involved as your needs change. We remain your trusted adviser throughout.
Whenever you are ready, we are here to help.